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NARRATIVE 



OF 



COLONEL ETHAN ALLEN'S 



CAPTIVITY. 



WRITTEN BY HIMSELF 



THIRD EDITION, WITH NOTES. 



BUnJLIXGTON: 

H. JOHNSON & Co, 

1838. 



^ ^^- Kj I 



Entered according to act of Congress in the jeer 1838, bj 

Chauncey Goodrich, 
in the Clerks office of the District of Vermont. 



^% l 



PUBLISHERS' ADVERTISEMENT. 



No apology need be ofFerred for presenting 
a new Edition of the following Narrative, of 
one of the most remarkable men of the age 
in which he lived, as it is now thirty -one 
years smce it has been published, and more 
than twenty years since it has been seen in any 
bookstore. It is given in the plain language 
of its self-educated author, without any alter- 
ation, and is said by his most intimate friends, 
to show more of his character, than all else 
that has ever been written of him. 

Little is known of the life of Col. Allen, 
but what is found in Biographical Dictionaries. 
Spark's American Biography, and his Memoirs 
written by Mr. Moore, from whose introduc- 
tion the following just tribute to his memory 
is copied. 



4 ADVERTISEMENT. 

" Perhaps no individual, of equal advan- 
tages, and the station he occupied in hfe 
contributed more towards establishing the 
independence of our country, than Ethan 
Allen, the subject of this memoir. The 
mass of the people among whom he resided, 
wxre rude and uncultivated ; yet bold in spir- 
it and zealous in action. It consequently fol- 
lowed, that no one, save a man of strong nat- 
ural endowments — of much decision, energy 
and bravery, could control their prejudices 
and inchnations. Habit had rendered them 
famihar with danger, and impatient of re- 
straint : hence, it followed, that no policy, 
unless proceeding from a source in which 
they had confidence, ever gained their appro- 
bation. Upon Allen, whose courage was 
undoubted, and whose zealous devotion to 
their interests was universally acknowledged, 
they implicitly rehed. They had known him 
in adversity and prosperity — they had weigh- 
ed him, and found nothing lacking. To friend 
or foe, he was ever the same unyielding advo- 
cate of the rights of man, and universal hb- 
erty. The policy, therefore, he upheld, as 
beneficial to the common cause of American 



ADVERTISEMENT. O 

liberty, ever found strong and efficient sup- 
porters in the friends with whom he associated, 
and by whom he was known. 

From the commencement of our Revolu- 
tionary struggle, until its final close, Ethan 
Allen proved a zealous and strenuous sup- 
porter of the cause. Whether in the field or 
the council — whether at home, a freeman 
among the mountains of Vermont, or loaded 
with the manacles of despotism, in a foreign 
country, his spirit never quailed beneaih the 
sneer of the tory, or the harsh threats of in- 
solent authority. A stranger to fear, his 
opinions w^ere ever given without disguis;e or 
hesitation : and, an enemy to oppression, he 
sought every opportunity to redress the wrongs 
of the oppressed. It is not to be supposed, 
however, that he was faultless. Like other 
men, he had his errors — like other men, his 
toibles. Yet he was not wilfully stubborn in 
either. When convinced of an erroneous 
position, he was ever willing to yield a victo- 
ry : but, in theory, as in practice, he contest- 
ed every inch of gi ound ; and only yielded 
when he had no weapons left to meet his an- 
tagonist. This trait in his character serves, at 
1* 



6 ADVERTISEMENT. 

least, to prove, that he was honest in his con- 
clusions, however erroneous the premises from 
which they were deducted. 

Much error of opinion prevails among all 
classes of individuals, in relation to the char- 
acter of Col. Allen, at the present period. 
He is generally viewed as a coarse, ignorant 
man, void of all the social feelings, and arro- 
gant in all his pretensions. Even Mr. Dwight 
in his '^ Travels in New-England," reports 
him in this light ; and deems him only worthy 
a brief and unjust notice in his work. In 
what manner Mr. Dwight came in possess- 
ion of the facts upon which he predicated 
his conclusions, is beyond the knowledge of 
the author of this Memoir : but, certain it is, 
he has materially misrepresented the moral 
principles, and in fact, the general character 
of Col. Allen. It is presumed, however, 
that Mr. Dwight, like many other travellers, 
drew his inferences from the gossip of the 
people among whom he associated, without 
being at the trouble of extending his enqui- 
ries to a source from whence he might have 
deriviid every material fact in relation to the 
subject. In making this suggestion, the au- 



ADVERTISEMENT. 



thor would not be understood as attaching any 
particular blame to Mr. Dwight : but merely 
as correcting an error of opinion which is 
quite too prevalent in our country." 



ADVERTISEMENT 

TO THE WALPOLE EDITION, 

PUBLISHED IN 1807. 



In announcing the publication of this little, 
simple, true, and unvarnished narrative, 
the pubhshers have complied with the wash- 
es of a number of persons, who had a de- 
sire to keep in remembrance the hero of 
Ticonderoga, and the exploits he performed. 
It is beheved that there is not a copy for sale 
in any bookstore in the United Stats ; and 
the style of printing, at the time of its first 
appearance, which is now near thirty years 
since, was in so unimproved a condition, that 
it has never been seen but in the shabby 
dress of a large and ragged pamphlet. The 
events of those " troublous times," in which 
Col. Allen took a conspicuous part, are 



ADVERTISEMENT. ^ 

rendered doubly interesting from the lively, 
unadorned manner of his own narration. 
The high compliments which he pays 
to the prowess, uniform perseverance and 
resolution, manifested by the " Green Moun- 
tain Boys" of his native State, will no doubt 
be an inducement to them, and to his country- 
men generally, to read and preserve this 
monument of him, and as they con the pages 
of this "litde book" which he has "left 
them," to imitate the coolness and courage 
of the deceased veteran. 

The sufferings and cruelties borne by him 
and his felloAV soldiers, frequently draw from 
him in the course of his narrative, a lan- 
guage the most severe, with respect to a 
country from whom we originated, with whom 
we are now at peace, and with whom it is our 
policy to continue on a friendly footing ; 
but the candid and the feeling mind should 
make great allowance for the unparalleled 
situation of our affairs, for the sufferings of his 
handful of litde '^ Spar tans, ^^ for whom he 
felt a father's and a brother's affecdon. These 
circumstances must have given a deep colour- 
ing to the pencil which was pourtraying his 



10 ADVERTISEMENT. 

own and his country's wrongs. On the whole, 
we think this Uttle tract may be re-perused, 
with advntage and pleasure, by the aged, and 
read with much edification and entertainment 
by the young. As it is deemed that the 
very words, in every respect, made use of by 
the Colonel, would be more acceptable to the 
reader, than any artificial decoration ot style, 
we shall almost mvariably adhere to the origi- 
nal. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Induced by a sense of duty to my country, and by 
the application of many of my worthy friends, some 
of whom are of the first characters,^ I have concluded 
to publish the following narrative of the extraordinary 
scenes of my captivity, and the discoveries which I 
made in the course of the same^ of the cruel and re- 
lentless disposition and behaviour of the enemy, to- 
wards the prisoners in their power; from which the 
state politician, and every gradation of character among 
the people, to the worthy tiller of the soil, may de- 
duce such inferences as they shall think proper to car- 
ry into practice. Some men are appointed into office, 
in these States, who read the history of the cruelties 
of this war, with the same careless indifference, as 
they do the pages of the Roman history ; nay, some 
are preferred to places of trust and profit by the 
tory influence. The instances are (I hope) but rare, 
and it stands all freemen in hand to prevent their far- 
ther influence, which, of all other things, would be 
the most baneful to the liberties and happiness of this 
country ; and, so far as such influence takes place, rob 
us of the victory we have obtained at the expense of 
so much blood and treasure. 

I should have exhibited to the public a history of 
the facts herein contained, soon after my exchange, 



12 INTRODUCTION. 

had not the urgency of my private affairs, together 
with more urgent public business, demanded my atten- 
tion, till a few weeks before the date hereof. The 
reader will readily discern, that a Narrative of this sort 
could not have been written when 1 was a prisoner. 
My trunk and writings were often searclied under va- 
rious pretences ; so that I never wrote a syllable, or 
made even a rough minute whereon I might predicate 
thfs narration, but trusted solely to my memory for the 
whole. I have, however, taken the greatest care and 
pains to recollect the facts and arrange them : but as 
they touch a variety of characters and opposite inte- 
rests, I am sensible that all will not be pleased with 
the relation of them. Be this as it will, I have made 
truth my invariable guide, and slake my honor on the 
truth of the facts. I have been very generous with the 
British in giving them full and ample credit for all 
their good usage, of any considerrble consequence, 
which I met with among them, during my captivity ; 
which was easily done, as I met with but little, in conni- 
parison of the bad, which, by reason of the great plu- 
rality of it, could not be contained in so concise a nar- 
rative; so that I am certain that I have more fully enu- 
merated the favors which 1 received, than the abuses 
I suffered. The critic will be pleased to excuse any 
inaccuracies in the performance itself, as the author has 
unfortunately missed of a liberal education. 

ETHAN ALLEN. 
Bennington, Mai'ch, 25, 1779. 



NARRATIVE. 



EvEFi since I arrived at the state of man- 
hood, and acquainted myself with the gener- 
al history of mankind, I have felt a sincere 
passion for liberty. The history of nations, 
doomed to perpetual slavery, in consequence 
of yielding up to tyrants their natural-born 
liberties, I read with a sort philosophical hor- 
ror ; so that the first systematical and bloody 
attempt, at Lexington, to enslave America, 
thoroughly electrified my mind, and fully de- 
termined me to take part with my country : 
And, while I was v/ishing for an opportunaty 
to signalize myself in its behalf, directions 
were privately sent to me from the then colo- 
ny (now state) of Connecticut, to raise the 



14 ETHAN Allen's 

Green Mountain Boys, and, if possible, with 
them to surprise and take the fortress, Ticon- 
deroga.* This enterprise I cheerful'y under- 
took ; and, after first guarding all the several 

*The *' Ticonderoga Fort" is thus described in the 
American Encyclopedia : 

Ticonderoga ; a post-town of Ei?sex county, New 
York, on the west side of the south end of lake Cham- 
plain, and at the north end of lake Geor^re ; twelve 
miles south of Crown Point, ninety-five north of Albany ; 
population in 1820, 1493. There is a valuable iron 
mine in this township. — Ticonderoga Fort, famous in 
the history of the American wars, is situated on an emi- 
nence, on the west side of lake Champlain, just north 
of the entrance of the outlet from lake George into lake 
Champlain, fifteen miles south of Crown Poini, twenty- 
four north of Whitehall ; Ion 73° 27' W. ; lat. 43^^ 30' N. 
It is now in ruins. Considerable remains of the fortifi- 
cations still to be seen. The stone walls of the fort, 
which are now standing, are, in some places, thirty feet 
high. Mount Defiance lies about a mile South of the 
fort, and iMount Independence is about half a mile dis- 
tant, on the opposite side of the lake, in Orweil. Ver- 
mont." 

It was built by the French, in the year 1756, and had 
all the advantages tii^tartand nature could give it; being 
defended on three sides by water, surrounded by rocks, 
and where that fails, the French erected a breast work 
nine feethijrh. The English and Colonial troops, under 



NARRATIVE. 16 

passes that led thither, to cut off all intelli- 
gence between the garrison and the country, 
made a forced march from Bennington, and 
arrived at the lake opposite to Ticonderoga, 
on the evening of the ninth day of May, 1775, 
with two hundred and thirty valiant Green 
Mountain Boys; and it was v/ith the utmost 
difficulty that I ; procured boats to cross the 
lake. However, i landed eighty three men 
near the garrison, and sent the boats back for 
the rear guard, commanded by Col. Seth War- 
ner, but the day began to dawn, and I found 
myself under a necessity to attack the fort, 
before the rear could cross the lake ; and, as 
it was viewed hazardous, 1 harrangued the 
officers and soldiers in the manner following : 
'* Friends and fellow soldiers, You have, for 
a number of years past been a scourge and 
terror to arbitary power. Your valor has been 
famed abroad, and acknowledged, as appears 

General Abercroinbie were defeated here in the ye<ir 
1758, but it was taken the year following by General 
Amherst. It was surprised by Colonels Allen and x\r- 
nold, May 10, 1775. Was retaken by General Bur- 
goyne in July, 1777, and was evacuated after his surren- 
der, the garrison returning to St. Johns. 



16 ETHAN ALLEIn's 

hy the advice and orders to me, from the Gen- 
eral Assembly of Connecticut, to surprise and 
take the garrison now before us. I now pro- 
pose to advance before you, and, in person, 
conduct you through the wicket-gate ; for we 
must this morning either quit our pretensions 
to valor, or possess ourselves of this fortress 
in a few minutes; and, inasmuch as it is a 
desperate attempt, which none but the bravest 
of men dare undertake, I do not urge it on 
any contrary to his will. You that will un- 
dertake voluntarily, poise your firelocks." 

The men being, at this time, drawn up in 
three ranks, each poised his firelock. I or- 
dered them to face to the right, and at the 
head of the centre-file, marched them imme- 
diately to the wicket-gate aforesaid, where I 
iound a sentry posted, who instantly snapped 
his fusee at me : J ran immediately towards 
him, and he retreated through the covered 
way into the parade within the garrison, gave 
a halloo, and ran under a bomb-proof. My 
party, who followed me into the fort, I form- 
ed on the parade in such a manner as to face 
the two barracks which faced each other. 

The garrison being asleep, except the sen- 



tries, we gave three huzzas which greatly sur- 
prised them. One of the sentries made a 
pass at one of my officers with a charged bay- 
onet, and sUghtly wounded him : My first 
thought was to kill him with my sword ; but, 
in an instant, I altered the design and fury of 
the blow to a slight cut on the side of the 
head ; upon which he dropped his gun, and 
asked quarter, which I readily granted him, 
and demanded of him the place where the 
commanding oflicer kept ; he shewed me a 
pair of stairs in the front of a barrack, on the 
west part of the garrison, which led up to a 
second story in said barrack, to which I imme- 
diately repaired, and ordered the commander, 
Capt. De la Place, to come forth instantly, or 
I would sacrifice the whole garrison ; at which 
the Capt. came immediately to the door, with 
his breeches in his hand ; when I ordered him 
to deliver to me the fort instantly ; he asked 
me by what authority I demanded it : I an- 
swered him, "In the name of the great Jeho- 
vah, and the Continental Congress."* The 

*lf the Colonel has expressed a little of his usaal se- 
verity in this place, he might have remarked also, that 

2* 



J 8 ETHAN Allen's 

authority of the Congress being very little 
known at that time, he began to speak again ; 
!)ijt i interrupted him, and with my drawn 
swoj'd over his head, again demanded an im- 
mediate surrender of the garrison ; with which 
he then comphed, and ordered his men to be 
forthwith paraded without arms, as he had 
given up the garrison. In the mean time 
some of my officers had given orders, and in 
consequence thereof, sundry of the barrack 
doors were beat down, and about one third 
of the garrison imprisoned, w^hich consisted 
of the said commander, a Lieut. Feltham, a 
conductor of artillery, a gunner, two Serjeants, 
and forty-four rank and file ; about one hun- 
dred pieces of cannon, one thirteen inch mor- 
tar, and a number of swivels. This surprise 
was carried into execution in the grey of the 
morning oi the tenth day of May, 1775. The 
sun seemed to rise that morning with a supe- 
rior lustre ; and Ticonderoga and its depen- 
dencies smiled on its conquerors, who tossed 
about the flowing bowl, and wished success to 

neither of the authorities he mentioned were rauch koown 
in a British camp. 



NARRATIVE, 19 

Congress, and the liberty and freedom of 
America. Happy it was for me, at that time, 
that the then future pages of the book of fate, 
which afterwards unfolded a miserable scene 
of two years and eight months imprisonment, 
were hid from my view. 

But to return to my narration : Col. War- 
ner, with the rear guard, crossed the lake, and 
joined me early in the morning, whom I sent 
off, without loss of time, with about one hun- 
dred men, to take possession of Crown Point, 
which was garrisoned with a serjeant and 
twelve men ; which he took possession of the 
same day, as also of upwards ot one hundred 
pieces of cannon. But one thing now remain- 
ed to be done, to make ourselves complete 
masters ot lake Champlain ; this was to pos- 
sess ourselves of a sloop of war, which was 
then lying at St, John's ; to effect which, it 
was agreed in a council of war, to arm and 
man out a certain schooner, which lay at 
South Bay, and that Capt. (now general) Ar- 
nold* should command her, and that I should 

*This name, ivhich now calls to mind the idea of 
treason, at every mention of it, is ** damned to everlast- 
ing fame." His early history, with his conduct during 



20 ETHAN Allen's 

command the batteaux. The necessary pre- 
parations being made, we set sail from Ticon* 
deroga, in quest of the sloop, which was much 

the revolution, is probably familiar to every school boy. 
His subsequent life is thus described by Dr. Allen, in 
his American Biographical Dictionary. 

" From the conclusion of the war till liis death Gener- 
al Arnold resided chiefly in England. In 1786 he was 
at St. Johns, New Brunswick, engaged in trade and nav- 
igation, and again in 1790. For some cause he became 
very unpopular in 1792 or 1193, was hung in ejffigy, and 
the mayor found it necessary to read the riot act, and a 
company of troops was called out to quell th3 mob. Re- 
pairing to the West Indies in 1794, a French fleet an- 
chored at the same island; he became alarmed lest he 
should be detained by the American allies and passed 
the fleet concealed on a raft of lumber. He died in 
Gloucester place, London, June 14, 1801. — He married 
Margaret, the daughter of Edward Shippen of Philadel- 
phia, ehifcf justice, and a loyalist. General Green, it is 
said, was his rival. She combined iacinating manners 
with strength of mind. She died at London Aug. 24, 
1804, aged 43. His sons were men of property in Can- 
ada in 1829. — His character presents little to be com- 
mended. His daring courage may indeed excite admi- 
ration ; but it was a courage without reflection and with- 
out principle. He fought bravely for his country and he 
bled in her cause ; but his country owed him no returas 
of gratitnde, for his subsequent conduct proved, that he 



NARRATIVE. 21 

larger, and carried more guns and heavier 
metal than the schooner. General Arnold, 
with the schooner sailing faster than the bai- 
teaux, arrived at St. Johns ; and by surprise, 
possesseil himself of the sloop, belore I could 
arrive with the batteaux : He also made pris- 
oners of a Serjeant and twelve men, w^ho were 
garrisoned at that place. It is worthy remark 
that as soon as General Arnold had secured 
the prisoners on board, and had made prepa- 
ration for sailing, the wind, which but a few 
hours belore was fresh in the south, and well 
served to carry us to St. John?, now shifted, 

had no honest regard to her interests, but was governed 
by selfish considerations. His progress from sell-indul- 
gence to treason was easy and rapid. He was vain and 
luxurious, and to gratify ids gidd} desires lie must resort 
to meanness, dishonesty, and extortion. These vices 
brought with them disgrace ; and tlie contempt, into 
which he fell, awakened a spirit of revenge, atid left him 
to the unrestrained influence of his cupidity and passion. 
Thus from the high fame, lo wliich his bravery had ele- 
vated him, he descended into inOimy. Thus too he fur- 
nisiied new evidence of the infatuation of the linman 
mind in attaching such value to the reputation of a sol- 
dier, which may be obtained, while the heart is unsound 
and every moral sentiment is entirely depraved." 



2S ETHAN Allen's 

ami came fresh from the north ; and m about 
o^e hour's time, Gen. Arnold sailed with the 
ITfize and schooner for Ticonderoga. When 
I met him with my party, within a few miles 
of SL Johns, he saluted me with a discharge 
of cannon, which I returned with a volley of 
small arms. This being repeated three times, 
I went on board the sloop with my party, 
where ^'everal loyal Congress healths were 
drank. 

We were now masters of lake Champlain, 
and the garrison depending thereon. This 
success I viewed of consequence in the scale 
of American politics ; for, if a settlement be- 
tween die then colonies and Great Britain, had 
soon taken place, it would have been easy to 
have restored these acquisitions ; but viewing 
the then future consequences of a cruel war, 
as it has really proved to be, and the command 
of that lake, garrisons, artillery, &c., it must be 
viewed to be of signal importance to the Ame- 
rican cause, and it is marvellous to me that we 
ever lost the command of it. Nothing but ta- 
king a Burgoyne with a whole British army, 
could, in my opinion, atone for it ; and not- 
withstanding such an extraordinary victory, 



JVARRATIVE. 23 

we must be obliged to regain the command of 
that lake again, be the cost what it will : by 
doing this Canada will easily be brought into 
union and confederacy with the United States 
of America. Such an event would put it out 
of the power of the western tribes of Indians 
to carry on a w^ar with us, ami be a solid and 
durable bar against any further inhuman bar- 
barities committed on our fronder inhabitants, 
by cruel and blood-thirsty savages ; for it is 
impossible for them to carry on a vv^ar, except 
they are supported by the trade and commerce 
of some civiUzed nation ; Vv^hich to them would 
be impracdcabie, did Canada compose a part 
of the American empire. 

Early in the fall of the year, the little army, 
under the command of the Generals Schuyler 
and Montgomery, were ordered to advance 
into Canada. I was at Ticondero^a, when thh 
order arrived ; and the Generals, with most of 
the field officers, requested me to attend them 
in the expedition ; and, though at that dme I 
had no commission from Congress, yet they 
engaged me, that T should be considered as 
an officer, the same as though I had a commis- 
sion ; and should, as occasion might require, 



24 ETHAN ALLEiN's 

command certain detachments of the army. 
This I considered as an honorable offer, and 
did not hesitate to comply with it, and advan- 
ced with the army to the Isle Aiix Noix ;* from 
whence I was ordered by the General, to go 
in company with Major Brown, and certain in- 
terpreters, through the woods into Canada, 
with letters to the Canadians, and to let them 
know that the design of the Army was only 
against the English garrisons, and not the 
country, th^ir liberties, or religion ; and hav- 
ing, through much danger, negotiated this bu- 
siness, I returned to the isle Aux Noix the fore 
part of September, when General Schuyler 
returned to Albany ; and in consequence the 
command devolved upon general Montgomery 
whom I assisted in laying a line of circumval- 
lation round the fortress, St. John's. t After 

*A small island, containing about 85 acres, lO^ miles 
north of the boundary lines of the States of New York 
and Vermont. It is strongly fortified, and completely 
commands the water communication from lake Cham- 
plain. Here the British had a small garrison, 

tSt. Johns is a thriving village, in the county of Cham- 
bly, situated at the north end of lake Champlain, on 
the west bank of the Sorrell river, twenty eight miles 



NARRATIVE. 26 

which I was ordered, by the General, to make 
a second tour mto Canada, upon nearly the 
same design as before ; and withal to observe 
the disposition, designs and movements of the 
inhabitants of the country. This reconnoiter 
I undertook with reluctance, choosing rather 
to assist at the seige of St. John's, which was 
then closely mvested ; but my esteem for the 
general's person, and opinion of him as a poli- 
tician and brave officer, induced me to pro- 
ceed. 

I passed through all the parishes on the 
river Sorrell>* to a parish at the mouth of the 
same, which is called by the same name, prea- 
ching politics ; and went from thence across 
the Sorrell to the river St. Lawrence, and up 
the river through the parishes to Longueil, and 

southward of Montreal. It is the port of entry and 
clearance, between the United States and Canada. It 
is now connected with the St. Lawrence river by a rail 
road. 

* Sorrell River, the outlet of Lake Chaniplain, which 
after a course of about 69 miles North, empties into the 
river St. Lawrence, in north lat. 46° 10' and long. 72^ 
25' westi. Sorrell Fort, built by the French, is at the 
western point of the mouth of this river. 
3 



26 ETHAN Allen's 

so far met with good success as an itinerant. In 
this round my guard were Canadians, my in- 
terpreter, and some few attendants excepted. 
On the morning of the 24th day of September, 
I set out with my guard of about eighty men, 
from Longueil, to go to La Praire ;* from 
whence I determined to go to Gen. Montgo- 
mery's camp ; but had not advanced two miles 
before I met with Major Brov/n, who has since 
been advanced to the rank of a Colonel, who 
desired me to halt, saying that he had some- 
thing of importance to communicate tome and 
my confidants ; upon which I halted the party, 
and went into a house, and took a private 
room with him and several of my associates, 
where Col. Brown proposed that, " provided I 
would return to Longueil, and procure some 
canoes, so as to cross the river St. Lawrence a 
iitde north of Montreal, he would cross it a 
little to the south of the town, with near two 
hundred men, as he had boats sufficient ; and 
that we would make ourselves masters of 



* La Prairie, a populous little village, on the river St. 
i^awrence in, Canada, eighteen miles north of St. Johns, 
and nine south west of Montreal. 



NARRATIVE. 27 

Montreal." This plan was readily approved 
by me and those in council ; and in conse- 
quence of which I returned to Longueil, col- 
lected a few canoes, and added about thirty 
English Americans to my party, and crossed 
the river in the night of the 24th, agreeable to 
the before proposed plan. 

My whole party at this time, consisted of 
about one hundred and ten men, near eighty 
of whom were Canadians. We were most of 
the night crossing the river, as we had so few 
canoes that they had to pass and re-pass 
three times, to carry my party across. Soon 
after day-break, I set a guard between me and 
the town, with special orders to let no person 
whatever pass or re-pass them, and another 
guard on the other end of the road, with like 
directions ; in the mean time, I reconnoitered 
the best ground to make a defence, expecting 
Col. Brown's party was landed on the other 
side of the town, he having, the day before, 
agreed to give three huzzas with his men early 
in the morning, which signal I was to return, 
that we might each know that both parties 
were landed ; but the sun, by this time, being 
near two hours high, and the sign failing, I be- 



28 ETHAN Allen's 

gan to conclude myself to be in a premunire, 
and would have crossed the river back again, 
but I knew the enemy would have discovered 
such an attempt ; and as there could not more 
than one third part of my troops cross at one 
time, the other two thirds would of course fall 
into their hands. This I could not reconcile 
to my own feelings as a man, much less as an 
officer : I therefore concluded to maintain the 
ground, if possible, and all to fare alike. In 
consequence of this resolution, I despatched 
two messengers one to La Prairie, to Colonel 
Brown, and the other to L' Assumption, a 
French settlement, to Mr. Walker, who was 
in our interest, requesting their speedy assist- 
ance, giving them, at the same time, (o under- 
stand my critical situation. In the mean time, 
sundry persons came to my guards, pretend- 
ing to be friends, but were by them taken 
prisoners and brought to me. These I ordered 
to confinement, until their friendship could be 
farther confirmed ; for I was jealous they were 
spies, as they proved to be afterwards. One of 
the principle of them making his escape, ex- 
posed the weakness of my party, which was 
the final cause of my misfortune ; for I have 



N\KRATIVE. 29 

been since informed that Mr. Walker, agreea- 
ble to my desire, exerted himself, and had 
raised a considerable number of men for my 
assistance, which brought him into difficulty 
afterwards ; but, upon hearing of my misfor- 
tune, he disbanded them again. 

The town of Montreal was in a great tu- 
mult. General Carlton and the royal party, 
made every preparation to go on board their 
vessels of force, as I was afterwards informed, 
but the spy escaping from my guard to the 
town, occasioned an alteration in their policy, 
and emboldened General Carlton to send the 
force which he had there collected, out against 
me. I had previously chosen my ground, but 
when i saw the number of the enemy as they 
sallied out of the town, I perceived it would 
be a day of trouble, if not of rebuke ; but I 
had no chance to flee, as Montreal was situa- 
ted on an island, and the river St. Lawrence 
cut Oil my communication to General Mont- 
gomery's camp. I encouraged my soldiery 
to bravely defend themselves, that we should 
soon have help, and that we should be able to 
keep the ground if no more. This, and much 

more, I affirmed with the greatest seeming as- 
3* 



30 ETHAN Allen's 

surance, and which in reality I thought to be 
in some degree probable. 

The enemy consisted of not more than forty 
regular troops, together with a mixed multi^ 
tude, chielly Canadians, with a number of En- 
glish who lived in town, and some Indians j in 
all to the number of near five hundred. 

The reader will notice that most of my par- 
ty were Canadians ; indeed it was a motley 
parcel of soldier}^ which composed both par- 
ties. How^ever, the enemy began to attack 
from wood-piles, ditches, buildings, and such 
like places, at a considerable distance, and I 
returned the fire from a situation more than 
e(jually advantageous. The attack began be- 
tween two and three o^clock in the afternoon, 
just before which I ordered a volunteer by the 
name of Richard Young, with a detachment 
ot nine men as a flank guard, which, under 
the cover of the bank of the river, could not 
only annoy the enemy, but at the same time, 
serve as a flank guard to the left of the main 
body. 

The fire continued for sometime on both 
.sides ; and I was confident that such a remote 
method of attack could not carry the ground, 



NARRATIVE, 31 

provided it should be continued 'till night; but 
near half the body of the enemy began to 
flank round to my right ; upon which I ordered 
a volunteer, by the name of John Dugan, who 
had lived many years in Canada, and under- 
stood the French language, to detach about 
fifty of the Canadians, and post himself at an 
advantageous ditch, which was on my right, 
to prevent my being surrounded : He advan- 
ced with the detachment, but instead of occu- 
pying the post, made his escape, as did like- 
wise Mr. Young upon the left, with their de- 
tachments. I soon perceived that the enemy 
was in possession of the ground, which Du- 
gan should have occupied. At this time I 
had but about forty five men vvith me ; some 
of whom w^ere wounded ; the enemy kept 
closing round me, nor was it in my power to 
prevent it ; by which mean?, my situation, 
which was advantageous in the first part of 
the attack, ceased to be so in the last ; and 
being almost entirely surrounded with such 
vast unequal numbers, I ordered a retreat, but 
found that those of the enemy, who W'ere of 
the country, and their Indians, could run as 
fast as my men, though the regulars could 



32 ETHAN Allen's 

not. Thus I retreated near a mile, and some 
of the enemy, with the savages^ kept flanking 
me, and others crowded hard in the rear. In 
line, I expected, in a very short time, to try 
the world ol spirits ; for I was apprehensive 
that no quarter w^ould he given to me, and 
therefore had determmed to sell my hie as 
dear as I could. One of the enemy's officers, 
boldly pressing in the rear, discharged his fu- 
see at me ; the ball whistled near me, as did 
many others that day. i returned the srJute, 
and missed him, as running had put us both 
out oi breatli,; for I conclude we were not 
frightened: i then saluted him with my tongue 
ill a harsh manner, and told bim that, inasmuch 
as his numbers were so far superior to mine, 
I would surrender provided I could be treated 
with honor, and be assured of good quarter 
for myself and the men who were with m,e ; 
and he answered I should ; another officer, 
coming up directly after, confirmed the trea- 
ty ; upon which I agreed to surrender Vv'ith 
my party, which then consisted of thirty-one 
effective men, and seven wounded. I order- 
ed them to ground their arms, which they 
did. 



NARKATIVE. 33 

The officer I capitulated with, then direct- 
ed me and my party to advance towards him, 
which was done ; I handed him my sword, and 
in half a minute after, a savage, part of whose 
head was shaved, being almost naked and 
painted, with feathers intermixed with the 
hair of the other side of his head, came run- 
ning to me with an incredible swiftness ; he 
seemed to advance with more than mortal 
speed ; as he approached near me, his hellish 
visage was beyond all description ; snakes' 
eyes appear innocent in comparison of his ; 
his features extorted ;* malice death, murder, 
and the wrath of devils and damned spirits 
are the emblems of ,hk countenaiice ; and in 
less than twelve feet of me, presented his 
firelock ; at the instant of his present, I twitch- 
ed the officer, to whom I gave my sword, be- 
tween me and the savage ; but he flew round 
with great fury, trying to single me out to 
shoot me without killing the officer ; but by 
this time I was near as nimble as he, keeping 
the officer in such a position that his danger 

* Probably meant to be distorted ; though, from tlie 
description it would appear thai his visage had been ei" 
torted from some " Gorgon or chimara dire J' 



34 ETHAN Allen's 

was my defence ; but, in less than half a min- 
ute, I was attacked by just such another imp 
of hell : Then 1 made the ofiicer fly around 
with incredible velocity, for a few seconds of 
time, when I perceived a Canadian, who had 
lost one eye, as appeared afterwards, taking 
my part against the savages ; and in an instant 
an Irishman came to my assistance with a fix- 
ed bayonet, and drove away the fiends, sv^ ear- 
ing by Jasus he would kill them. This tragic 
scene composed my mind. The escaping 
fi-om so awful a death, made even imprison- 
ment happy ; the more so as my conquerors 
on the field treated me with great civility and 
politeness. 

The regular officers said that they were 
very happy to see Col. Allen : I answered 
them, that I should rather choose to have seen 
them at Gen. Montgomery's camp. The 
gendemen repUed, that they gave full credit 
to what I said, and as I walked to the town, 
which was, as I should guess, more than two 
miles, a British officer walking at my right 
hand, and one of the French noblesse at my 
left J the latter of which, in the action, had 
his eyebrow carried away by a glancing shot. 



NARRATIVE. 35 

but was nevertheless very merry and facetiouSy 
and no abuse was offered me 'till I came to 
the barrack yard, at MontreaL where I met 
general Prescott, who asked me my name, 
which I told him : He then asked me, wheth- 
er I was that Col. Allen, who took Ticonde- 
roga. I told him I was the very man ; Then 
he shook his cane over my head, calling many 
hard names, among which he frequently used 
the word rebel, and put himself in a great 
rasje. I told him he would do well not to 
cane me, for I was not accustomed to it, and 
shook my fist at him, telling him that was the 
beetle ot mortality for him, if he offered to 
strike; upon which Capt. M'Cloud of the 
British, pulled him by the skirt, and whisper- 
ed to him, as he afterwards told me, to this 
import ; that it was inconsistent with his honor 
to strike a prisoner. He then ordered a ser- 
geant's command with fixed bayonets to come 
forward, and kill thirteen Canadians, which 
were included in the treaty aforesaid. 

It cut me to the heart to see the Canadians 
in so hard a case, in consequence of their 
having been true to me ; they were wringing 
their hands, saying their prayers, as I conclu- 



36 ETHAN Allen's 

(led, and expected immediate death. 1 there- 
fore stepped between the executioners and 
the Canadians, opened my clothes, and told 
Gen. Prescott to thrust his bayonet into my 
breast, for I was the sole cause of the Cana- 
dians taking up arms. 

The guard, in the mean time, rolling their 
eye-balls from the General to me, as though 
impatiently waiting his dread commands to 
sheath their bayonets in my heart ; I could, 
however, plainly discern, that he was in a sus- 
pense and quandary about the matter : This 
gave me additional hopes of succeeding ; for 
my design was not to die, but to save the Ca- 
nadians by a finesse. The general stood a 
mmute, when he made me the following re- 
ply ; " I will not execute you now ; but you 
shall grace a halter at Tyburn, God damn 
you." 

I remember I disdained his mentioning such 
a place ; I was, notwithstanding, a Tittle pleas- 
ed with the expression, as significantly con- 
veyed to me the idea of postponing the pres- 
ent appearance of death ; besides his sentence 
was by no means final, as to " gracing a hal- 
ter," although I had anxiety about it alfter I 



NARRATIVE. 37 

landed in England, as the reader will find in 
the course of this history. Gen. Prescott 
then ordered one of his officers to take me on 
board the Gaspee Schooner of war, and con- 
fine me, hands and feet, in irons, which was 
done the same afternoon I was taken. 

The action continued an hour and three 
quarters, by the watch, and I know not to 
this day how many of my men were killed, 
though I am certain there were but few ! if 1 
remember ri2:ht, seven were wounded ; one 
of them, WilUam Stewart, by name, was 
wounded by a savage with a tomahawk, after 
he was taken prisoner and disarmed, but was 
rescued by some of the generous enemy ; 
and so far recovered of his wounds, that he 
afterwards went with the other prisoners to 
England. 

Of the enemy were killed, a major Garden, 
who had been wounded in eleven different 
battles, and an eminent merchant, Patterson, 
of Montreal, and some others, but I never 
knew their whole loss, as their accounts were 
different. I am apprehensive that it is rare, 
that so much ammunition was expended, and 



38 ETHAN ALLEN^S 

SO little execution done by it ; though such 
of my party as stood the ground, behaved 
with great fortitude, much exceeding that of 
the enemy, but were not the best of marks- 
men, and, I am apprehensive, were all killed 
or taken ; the w^ounded were ail put into the 
hospital at Montreal, and those that were not, 
were put on board of different vessels in the 
river, and shackled together by pairs, viz. two 
men fastened together by one hand-cuff, be- 
mg closely fixed to one wrist of each of them, 
and treated with the greatest severity, nay as 
criminals. 

I no w come to the description of the irons, 
which were put on me : The hand-cuff was 
of a common size, and form, but my leg irons, 
I should imagine would weigh thirty pounds ; 
the bar was eight feet long, and very sub- 
stantial ; the shackleSj which encompassed 
my ancles, were very tight. 1 was told by the 
officer, who put them on, that it was the king's 
plate, and I heard other of their officers say, 
"that it would weigh forty weight. The irons 
were so close upon my ancles, that ! could 
not lie down in any other manner than on my 
back. I v/as put into the lowest and most 



NARRATIVE. 39 

wretched part of the vessel, where I got the 
favor of a chest to sit on ; the same answer- 
ed for my bed at night ; and having procur- 
ed some little blocks of the guard, who day 
and night, with fixed bayonets, watched over 
me, to lie under each end of the large bar of 
my leg irons, to preserve my ancles from gall- 
ing, while I sat on the chest, or lay back on 
the same, though most of the time, night and 
day, I sat on ii ; but at length, having a de- 
sire to lie down on my side, which the close- 
ness of the irons forbid, I desired the captain 
to loosen them for that purpose ; but was de- 
nied the favor: The Captain's name wa$( 
Royal, who did not seem to be an ill-natured 
man; but oftendmes said, that his express 
orders were to treat me with such severity, 
which was ^disagreeable to his own feehngs ; 
nor did he ever insult me, though many oth- 
ers, who came on board did. One of the offi- 
cers, by the name of Bradley, was very gen- 
erous to me ; he would often send me victuals 
from his own table ; nor did a day fail, but 
that he sent me a good drink of grog. 

The reader is now invited back to the time 
I was put into irons. I requested the privi- 



40 ETHAX ALLE^''S 

lege to write to Gen. Prescott, which was 
granted. I reminded him of the kind and 
generous manner of my treatment of the pris- 
oners I took at Ticonderoga; the injustice 
and ungentleman-hke usage, which I had met 
with from him, and demanded gendeman-hke 
usage, but received no answer h*om him. I 
soon after wrote to Gen. CaHton, which met 
the same success. In the mean while many 
of those who were permitted to see me, were 
very insultino;. 

I was confined in the manner I have related, 
on board the Gaspee schooner, about six 
weeks ; during which time I was obliged to 
throw out plenty of extravagant language, 
which answered certain purposes, at that time, 
better than to grace a history. 

To give an instance upon being insulted, in 
a tit of anger I twisted off a nail with my 
reeth, which I took to be a ten-penny 
nail ; it went through the mortise of the bar 
of my hand-cuff, and at the same tinG^e I sw^ag- 
gered over those who abused me ; particu- 
larly a Doctor Dace, v/ho told me that I was 
oudawed by Xew-York, and deserved death 
for several years past ; was at last fully ripen- 



NARRATIVE. 41 

ed for the halter, and in a fan' way to obtain 
it : When I challenged him, he excused him- 
self in consequence, as he said, of my being 
a criminal ; but I flung such a flood of lan- 
2ua2:e at him that it shocked him and the 
spectators, for my anger was very great. I 
iieard one say, damn him, can he eat iron 1 
After that a small padlock was fixed to the 
hand-cufl', instead of the nail ; and as thev 
were mean-spirited in iheir treatment to me, 
so it appeared to me, that they were equally 
timorous and covv'ardiy. 

I was alter sent with the prisoners taken 
with me to an armed vessel in the river, 
which lay off against Quebec, under the com- 
mand of Capt. M'Cloud, of the British, who 
treated me in a verv 2;enerous and obli2:in2: 
manner, and according to ray rank ; in about 
twentv-four hours I bid him farewell with re- 
gret; but my good fortune still continued. 
The name ot the Capt. of the ^^ssel I was put 
on board, was Littlejohn ; who, with his ofli- 
cers, behaved in a polite, generous, and friend- 
ly manner, I lived with them in the cabin, 
and fared on the best, my irons being taken 

off, contrary to the order he had received from 
4* 



42 ETHAN Allen's 

the commanding officer ; but Capt. Little- 
john swore, that a brave man should not be 
used as a rascal, on board his ship. 

Thus I found myself in possession of hap- 
piness once more, and the evils I had lately 
suffered, gave me an uncommon lelish for it. 

(Japt. Littlejohn used to go to Quebec al- 
moi^t every day, in order to pay his respects 
to certain gentlemen and ladies ; being there 
on ;;i certain day, he happened to meet with 
some disagreeable treatment, as he imagined, 
from a Lieut, of a man of war, and one word 
brought on another, untill the Lieutenant chal- 
lenged him to a duel on the plains of Abra- 
h'dm, Capt. Littlejohn was a gentleman, who 
entertained a high sense of honor, and could 
do no less than accept the challenge. 

At nine o'clock the next morning they were 
to 6glit. The Captain returned in the eve- 
ning, and acquainted his Lieutenant and me 
witk the affair. His Lieutenant w^as a high 
blooded Scotchman as w^ell as himself, who 
replied to his Captain that he should not want 
for a second. With this I interrupted him and 
gave the Captain to understand, that since an 
opportunity had presented, I would be glad to 



NARRATIVE. 43 

testify my gratitude to him, by acting the part 
of a faithful second ; on which he gave me his 
hand, and said that he wanted no better man. 
Says he, I am a King's officer, and you a pri- 
soner under my care ; you must, therefore, go 
with me, to the place appointed in disguise, 
and added further: *You must engage me, 
upon the honor of a gentleman, that whether 
I die or live, or whatever happens, provided 
you live, that you v^ill return to my Lieutenant 
on board this ship.' All this I solemnly enga- 
ged him. The. combatants were to discharge 
each a pocket pistd, and then to fall on with 
their iron-hiked rnuckle whangei's j and one 
of that sort was allotted for me;; but some 
British officers, who interposed early in the 
morning, settled the controversy without fight- 
ing. 

Now having enjoyed eight or nine days' 
happiness, from the polite and generous treat- 
ment ot Captain Littlejohn and his officers, I 
was obliged to bid them farewell, parting with 
them in as friendly a manner as we had lived 
together, which, to the best of my memory, 
was the eleventh of November: when a de- 
tachment of General Arnold's little army ap- 



44 ETHAN ALLEN S 

peared on point Levij* opposite Quebec, who 
had performed an extraordinary march through 
a wilderness countr}^, with design to have sur- 
prised the capital of Canada ; I was then taken 
on board a vessel called the Adamant, together 
with the prisoners taken with me, and put un- 
der the power of an English Merchant from 
London, whose name was Brook Watson : a 
man of malicious and cruel disposition, and 
who was probably excited, in the exercise of 
his malevolence, by a junto of tories, who 
sailed with him to England; among whom 
were Col. Guy Johnson, Col. Closs, and their 
attendants and associates, to the number of 
about thirty. 

All the ship's crew. Col. Gloss, in his per- 
sonal behaviour excepted, behaved towards 
the prisoners with that spirit of bitterness, 
which is the peculiar characteristic of tories, 
when they have the friends of America in their 
power, measuring their loyalty to the English 
King by the barbarity, fraud and deceit which 
they exercise towards the whigs. 

* Levi, a point of land in the river St. Lawrence, op- 
posite to ti«e city of Quebec. 



NARRATIVE. 45 

A small place in the vessel, enclosed with 
white-oak plank, was assigned for the prison- 
ers, and for me among the rest. I should 
imagine that it was not more than twentv 
feet one way, and twenty two the other: In- 
to this place we w^ere all, to the number of 
thirty-lour, thrust and hand-cuflied, two pris- 
oners more being added to our number, and 
were provided with two excrement tubs ; in 
this circumference we w ere obhged to eat and 
perform the offices of evacuation, during the 
voyage to England ; and w^ere insulted by ev- 
ery black-guard sailor and tory on board, in 
the cruelest manner ; but what is the most 
Surprising is, that not one of us died in the 
passage. When I was first ordered to go 
into the filthy enclosure, through a small sort 
of door, I positively refused, and endeavoured 
to reason the before named Brock Watson 
out of a conduct so derogatory to every senti- 
ment of honor and humanity, but all to no 
purpose my men being forced in the den al- 
ready ; and the rascal who had the charge of 
the prisoners commanded me to go immedi- 
ately in among the rest. He further added 
that the place was good enough for a rebel ; 



46 ETHAN Allen's 

that it was impertinent for a capital ofTender 
to talk 01 honor or humanity ; that any thing 
short of a halter was too good for me ; and 
that that would be my portion soon after I 
landed in England ; for which purpose only I 
was sent thither. About the same time a 
Lieutenant among the tories, insulted me in a 
grievous manner, saying that I ought to have 
been executed for my rebellion against New 
York, and spit in my face ; upon which, 
though I was hand-cuffed, I sprang at him with 
both hands, and knocked him partly down, but 
he scrambled along into the cabin, and I after 
him ; there he got under the protection of 
some men with fixed bayonets, who were or- 
dered to make ready to drive me into the place 
aforementioned. I challenged him to fight, 
notwithstanding the impediments that were on 
my hands and had the exalted pleasure to see 
the rascal tremble for fear ; his name I have 
forgot, but Watson ordered his guard to get 
me into the place with the other prisoners, 
dead or ahve ; and I had alm^ost as lieve die as 
do it, standing it out until they environed me 
round with bayonets; and brutish, prejudiced, 
abandoned wretches they were, from whom 



NARRATIVE. 47 

I could expect nothing but death or wounds : 
however, I told them, _ that they were good 
honest fellows ; that I could not blame them ; 
that I was only in a dispute with a calico mer- 
chant, who knew not how to behave towards 
a gentleman of the military estabhshment. 
This was spoke rather to appease them for my 
own preservation, as vvell as to treat Watson 
with contempt ; but still I found that they were 
determined to force me into the wretched cir- 
cumstances, which their prejudiced and depra- 
ved minds had prepared for me ; thereCore, 
rather than die, I submitted to their indignities, 
being drove with bayonets into the filthy dun- 
geon with the other prisoners, where we were 
denied fresh water, except a small allowance, 
which was very inadequate to our wants ; and 
in consequence of the stench of the place, each 
of us was soon follov/ed with a diarrhoea and 
lever, which occasioned an intolerable thirst. 
When we asked for water, we were, most 
commonly, instead of obtaining it insulted and 
derided; and to add to all the horrors of the 
place, it was so dark that we could not see 
each other, and were overspread with body 
lice. We had, notwithstanding these severi- 



48 ETHAN Ellen's 

ties, lull allowance of salt provisions, and a gill 
of rum per day ; the latter of which was of the 
utmost service to us, and, probably, was the 
means of saving several of our lives. About 
forty days we existed in this manner, when 
the land's end of England was discovered from 
the mast head ; soon after which, the prison- 
ers were taken from their gloomy abode, be- 
ing permitted to see the light of the sun, and 
breathe fresh air, which to us was very re- 
treshing. The day following we landed at 
Falmouth. 

A few days before I was taken prisoner, I 
shifted my clothes, by which 1 happened to 
be taken in a Canadian dress, viz. a short fawn 
skin jacket, double breasted, an undervest and 
breeches of sagathy, worsted stockings, a de- 
cent pair of shoes, two plain shirts, and a red 
worsted cap ; this was all the clothing 1 had, 
in which I made my appearance in England. 

When the prisoners were landed, multitudes 
of the citizens of Falmouth excited by curi- 
osity, crowded together to see us, which was 
equally gratifying to us. I saw numbers of 
people on the tops of houses, and the rising 
adjacent grounds were covered with them 



NARRATIVE. 49 

of both sexes. The throng was so great, that 
the King's officers were obhged to draw their 
swords, and force a passage to Pendennis cas- 
tle, which was near a mile from the town, 
where we were closely confined, in conse- 
quence of orders from General Carlton, who 
then commanded in Canada. 

The rascally Brook Watson then set out 
for London in great haste, expecting the re- 
ward of his zeal ; but the ministry received 
him, as I have been since informed, rather 
cooly ; for the minority in parliament took ad- 
vantage, arguing that the opposition of Ameri- 
ca to Great Britain, was not a rebellion : If it 
is, say they, why do you not execute Col. Al- 
len according to law ? But the majority ar- 
gued that I ought to be executed, and that the 
opposition was really a rebellion, but that pol- 
icy obliged them not to do it, inasmuch as the 
Congress had then most prisoners in their 
power ; so that my being sent to England, for 
the purpose of being executed, and necessity 
restraining them, vv^as rather a foil on their 
laws and authority, and they consequently dis- 
approved of my being sent thither. But I had 
never heard the least hint of those debates, in 



50 ETHAN Allen's 

parliament, or of the working of their policy, 
until sometime after I left England. 

Consequently the reader will readily con* 
ceive I was anxious about my preservation, 
knowing that 1 was in the power of a haughty 
and cruel nation, considered as such. There- 
fore, the first proposition which I determined 
in my own mind was, that humanity and moral 
suasion would not be consulted in the deter- 
mining of my fate ; and those that daily came 
in great numbers out of curio:^ity, to see me, 
both gentle and simple, united in this, that I 
would be hanged. A gentleman irom Ameri- 
ca, by the name of Temple, and who was 
friendly to me, just whispered me in the ear, 
and told me that bets were laid in London, that 
I would be executed; he likewise privi^tely 
gave me a guinea, but durst say but little to 
me. 

However agreeable to my first negative 
proposition, that rrioral virtue would not influ- 
ence my destiny, T had recourse to stratagem, 
which i was in hopes v»^ould move in the cir- 
cle of their policy. I requested of the com- 
mander of the casde the privilege of writing to 
Congress, who, after consulting with an officer 



NARRATIVE. 51 

that lived in town, of a superior rank, permit- 
ted me to write. I wrote, in the fore part of 
the letter, a short narrative of my ill treatment ; 
but withal let them know that, though I was 
treated as a criminal in England, and contin- 
ued in irons, together with those taken with 
me, yet it was in consequence oi' the orders 
which the commander of the castle received 
from General Carlton ; and therefore desired 
Congress to desist from matters of retaliation, 
undll they should know the result ol the gov- 
ernment in England, respecting their treatment 
towards me, and the prisoners with me, and 
govern themselves accordingly, with a partic- 
ular request, mat if retaliation should be found 
necessary, it might be exercised not accord- 
ing to the smaliness of my character in Ame- 
rica, but in proportion to the importance of the 
cause tor which I suffered. 1 his is, according 
to my present recollection, the .substance of 
the letter, inscribed. To the illusirious Conti- 
nental Congress, This letter w^as wrote \^ith 
a view that it should be sent to the ministry 
at London, rather than to Congress, with a 
design to intimidate the haughty English gov- 
ernment, and screen my neck from the halter. 



52 ETHAN Allen's 

The next day the officer, from whom I ob- 
tauied hncense to write, came to see me, and 
frowned on me on account of the impudence 
of the letter, as he phrased it, and further ad- 
ded, ' Do you think that we are fools in Eng- 
land, and would send your letter to Congress, 
with instructions to retaliate on our own peo- 
ple ? I have sent your letter to Lord North.' 
This gave me inward satisfaction, though I 
carefully concealed it with a pretended resent- 
ment, for I found I had come Yankee over him, 
and that the letter had gone to the identical 
person I designed it for. Nor do I know, to 
this day, but that it had the desired effect, 
though 1 have not heard any thing of the letter 
since. 

My personal treatment by Lieutenant Ham- 
ilton, who commanded the castle, was very 
generous. He sent me every day a fine break- 
fast and dinner from his own table and a bot- 
tle of good wine. Another aged gentleman, 
whose name I cannot recollect, sent me a 
good supper. But there was no distinction in 
public support between me and the privates ; 
we all lodged on a sort of Dutch bunks, in one 
common apartment, and were allowed straw. 



NARRATIVE. 63 

The privates were well supplied with fresh 
provisions, and with me, took effectual mea- 
sures to rid ourselves of lice. 

I could not but feel, inv/ardly, extremely 
anxious for my fate. This, I however, con- 
cealed from the prisoners, as well as fi'om the 
enemy, who were perpetually shaking the hal- 
ter at me. I nevertheless treated them with 
scorn and contempt : and having sent my let- 
ter to the ministry, could conceive of nothing 
more in my power but to keep up my spirits, 
behave in a daring, soldier-like manner, that 
I might exhibit a good sample of American 
fortitude.* Such a conduct^ I judged would 
liave a more probable tendency to my preser- 
vation than concession and timidity. This 
therefore, v/as ray deportment; and I had 
lastly determined, in my own mind, that if a 
cruel death must inevitably be my portion, I 

* The British must doubtless have hnd a high idea 
of the personal prowess of Mr. Alien ; and however su- 
perior their regular discipline might Iiave appeared in 
their own eyes, yet they could not but respect his cour> 
age. To this intrepid spirit, and the esteem it must have 
excited, the Colonel probably owes his complimentary 
meals and his daily bottle ot wine. 

5* 



54 ETHAN Allen's 

would face it undaunted ; and, though 1 great- 
ly rejoice that I returned to my country and 
friends, and to see the power and pride of 
Great Britain humbled ; yet I am confident I 
could then have died without the least appear* 
ance of dismay. 

f now clearly recollect that my mind was 
so resolved, that I -would not have trembled 
or shewn the least fear, as I was sensible it 
j^ould not alter my fate, nor do more than re- 
proach my memory, make my last act despi- 
cable to my enemies, and eclipse the other ac- 
tions of my life. For I reasoned thus, that 
nothing was more common than for men to 
die with their friends around them, weeping 
and lamenting over them, but not able to help 
them, which was in reality not different in the 
, consequence of it (i'om such a death as I was 
apprehensive of; and, as death was the natu- 
ral consequence of animal life to which the 
Iaw;s of nature subject mankind, to be timorous 
and uneasy as to the event and manner of it, 
was inconsistent with the character of a phi- 
losopher or soldier. The cause I was engaged 
in, J ever viewed worthy hazarding my life for, 
nor was I, in the most critical moments of tro'u- 



NARRATIVE. 55 

ble, sorry that I engaged in it ; and, as to the 
world of spirits, though I knew nothing of the 
mode or manner of it, I expected nevertheless, 
when I shoiiM arrive at such a world, that I 
should be as well treated as other gentlemen 
of my merit. 

Among the great numbers of people, who 
came to the castle to see the prisoners, some 
gentlemen told me that they had come fitty 
miles on purpose to see me^ and desired to 
ask me a number oi questions and to make free 
with me in conversation. I gave for answer, 
that I chose freedom in every sense of the 
word : Then one of them asked me what my 
occupation in life had been ? I answered him, 
that in my younger days I had studied divini- 
ty, but was a conjurer by profession. He re- 
plied, that I conjured wrong at ;the time I was 
taken ; and ! was obUged to own, that I mis- 
took a figure at that timCj but that I had con- 
jured them out of Ticonderoga. This was a 
place of great notoriety in England, so that the 
joke seemed to go in my favor. 

It w^as a common thing for me to be taken 
out of close confinement, into a spacious green 
in the castle, or rather parade, where numbers 



56 ETHAN Allen's 

of gentlemen and ladies were ready to see and 
hear me. I often entertained such audiences, 
with harrangues on the impracticability of 
Great Britain's conquering the then colonies of 
America, At one of these times I asked a 
gentleman for a bowl of punch, and he order- 
ed his servant to bring it, which he did, and 
offered it to me, but I reiused to take it from 
the hand of his servant ; he then gave it to me 
with his own hand, refusing to drink with me 
in consequence of my being a state criminal : 
However, I took the punch and drank it all 
down to one draught, and handed the gen- 
tleman the bowl : this made the spectators as 
well as myself merry. 

I expatiated on American freedom. This 
gained the resentment of a young beardless 
gendeman of the company, who gave himself 
very great airs, and replied, that he ' knew the 
Americans very well, and was certain that the}^ 
could not bear the smell of powder.' I repli- 
ed, that I accepted it as a challenge, and was 
ready to convince hini on the spot, that an 
American could bear the smell of powder ; at 
which he answered that he should not put him- 
self on a par with me. I then demanded of 



NARRATIVE. 57 

him to treat the character of the Americans 
with due respect. He answered that I was 
an Irishman ; but I assured him that I was a 
full blooded Yankee, and in fine bantered him 
so much, that he left me in possession of the 
ground, and the laugh went against him. Two 
clergymen came to see me, and, inasmuch as 
they behaved with civility, I returned them 
the same. We discoursed on several parts 
of moral philosophy and Christianity- and they 
seemed to be surprised that I should be ac- 
quainted with such topics, or that I should un- 
derstand a syllogism, or regular mode of aro^u- 

mentation. I am apprelTenslve my Canadian 
dress contributed not a little to the surprise, 
and excitement of curiosity ; to see a gende« 
man in England regularly dressed and well 
behaved would be no sight at ail ; but such a 
rebel as they were pleased to call me, it is 
probable, was never before seen in England. 

The prisoners were landed at Falmouth a 
few days before Christmas, and ordered on 
board of the Solebay Irigate, Capt. Symonds, 
on the eighth day of January, 1776, when our 
hand irons were taken off. This remove was 
in consequence, as I have been since informed, 



58 ETHAN ALLKN's 

of a writ of habeas corpus, which had been 
procured by some gentlemen in England, in 
order to obtain me my liberty. 

The Solebay,with sundry other men-of-war, 
and about forty transports, rendezvoused at 
the cove of Cork in Ireland, to take in provi- 
sion and water. 

When we w^ere first l)roughton board, Capt. 
Symonds ordered all the prisoners, and most 
of the hand's on board, to go on the deck, and 
caused to be read in their hearing, a certain code 
of law^s or rules, for the regulation and ordering 
of their behavior ; and then in a sovereign 
manner, ordered the prisoners, me in particu- 
lar, off the deck, and never to come on it 
again; for, said he,. this is a place for gentlemen 
to walk. Sol went off, an ofHcer following 
me, who told me that he would show me the 
place allotted lor me, and took me dow n to 
the cable tire, saying to me this is your place. 
Prior to this I had taken cold, by which I 
was in an ill state of health, and did not say 
much to the officer ; but stayed there that 
night, consulted my policy, and found I was 
in an evil case ; that a Capt. of a man-of-war 
was more arbitrary than a King, as he could 



NAR!tATlVE. ' 69 

view his territory with a look of his eye, and 
a movement of his finger commanded obedi- 
ence. I felt myself more desponding than I 
had done at any time before ; for I concluded 
it to be a government scheme, to do that clan- 
destinely which policy forbid to be done under 
sanction of any public justice and law. 

However, two days after I shaved and clean- 
sed myself as well as Icould, I went on deck. 
The Captain spoke to me in a great rage, and 
said, *Did I not order you not lo come on 
deck V I answered him, that at the same time 
he said, * that it was the place for gentlemen 
to walk; that I was Col. Allen, but had not 
been properly introduced to him/ He repli- 
ed, G-d damn you, sir, be careful not to w aik 
the same side of the deck that I do.' This I'ave 

o 

me encouragement, and ever after that I walk- 
ed in the manner he had directed, except when 
he, at certain times afterwards, had ordered 
me off in a passion, and I then would directly 
afterwards go on again, telling him to command 
his slaves ; that I was a gentlem.an and had a 
right to walk the deck ; yet when he express- 
ly ordered me off, I obeyed, not out of obedi- 



60 ETHAN Allen's 

ence to him, but to set an example to his ship's 
crew, who ought to obey him. 

To walk to the windward side of the deck 
is, according to custom the prerogative of the 
Captain ot the man-of-war, though he, often- 
times, nay commonly, walks with his Lieuten- 
ants, when no strangers are by. When a 
Captain from some other man-of-war, comes 
on board, the Captains walk to the windward 
side, and the other gentlemen to the leeward. 

It was but a lew nights I lodged in the ca- 
ble tire, before 1 gained an acquaintance with 
the master of arms his name was Gillegan, an 
Irishman, who was a generous and well dispo- 
sed man, and in a friendly manner made me 
an offer of living with him in a little birth, 
which was allotted him between decks, and 
enclosed with canvass ; his preferment on 
board was about equal to that ot a Serjeant in 
a regiment. 1 was comparatively happy in 
the acceptance of his clemency, and lived with 
him in friendship till the frigate anchored in 
the harbor of Cape Fear, North Carolina, in 
America. 

Nothing of material consequence happened 
till the fleet rendezuoused at the cove of Cork, 



^ NARRATIVE. 61 

except a violent storm which brought old har- 
dy sailors to their prayers. It was soon ru- 
mored in Cork that I was on board the Sole- 
bay, with a number of prisoners from America; 
upon which Messrs. Clark and Hays, merchants 
in company, and a number of oth^r benevo- 
lently disposed gentlemen, contributed large- 
ly to the relief and support of the prisoners, 
who were thirty -four in number, and in very 
needy circumstances. A suit of clothes from 
head to foot, including an overcoat or surtout, 
and two shirts were bestowed on each of them. 
My suit 1 received m superfine broadcloths, 
sufficient for two jackets, and two pair ot 
breeches overplus ot a suit throughout, eight 
fine Holland shirts and stocks ready made, 
with a number of pairs of silk and worsted 
hose, two pair of shoes, two beaver hats, one of 
which was sent me richly laced with gold, by 
James Bonwell. The Irish gentlemen further- 
more made a large gratuity of wines of the best 
sort, old spirits, Geneva, loaf and brown sugar, 
coffee, tea and chocolate, with a large round 
of pickled beef, and a number of tat lurkies, 
with many other articles, for my sea stores, 

too tedious to mention here. To the pri- 
6 



62 ETHAN Allen's 

vates they bestowed on each man two pounds 
01 tea, and six pounds of brown sugar. These 
articles were received on board at a time, 
when the Captain and first Lieutenant were 
gone on shore, by permission of the second 
Lieutenant, a handsome young gentleman, who 
was then under twenty years of age ; his name 
was Douglass, son of Admiral Douglass, as I 
was informed. 

As this munificence was so unexpected and 
plentiful, I may add needful, it impressed on 
my mind the highest sense of gratitude towards 
my benefactors ; for I w^as not only suppHed 
with the necessaries and conveniences of life, 
but with the grandeurs and superfluities of it. 
Mr, Hays, one of the donators before mentioned, 
came on boaixl, and behaved in the most obli- 
ging manner, telhng me that he hoped my trou- 
bles were past ; for that the gentlemen of 
Cork determined to make my sea stores equal 
to those of the Captain of the Solebay's ; he 
made an offer of live stock and wdierewith to 
support them ; but I knew this would be de- 
nied. And to crov»m all, did send to me by 
another person, fifty guineas, but I could not 
reconcile receiving the whole to my own feel- 
ings, as it might hav« the appearance of ava- 



NARRATIVE. 63 

rice ; and therefore received but seven guineas 
only, and am confident, not only from the ex- 
ercise of the present well tim^d generosit}^ 
but from a large acquaintance with gentlemen 
of this nation, that as a people they excel in 
liberality and bravery. 

Two days after the receipt of the aforesaid 
donations. Captain Symonds came on board, 
full of envy towai'ds the prisoners, and swore 
by all that is good, that the dam.ned American 
rebels should not be feasted at this rate, by 
the damned rebels of Ireland ; he therefore 
took away all my liquors before-mentioned, 
except some of the wme which was secreted, 
and a two gallon jug of old spirits which was 
Reserved for me per favour of Lieut. Douglass. 
The takmg of my liquors was abomin^ible in 
his sight; he therefore spoke in my behalf, 
till the Captain was angry with him ; and in 
consequence, proceeded and took away all the 
tea and sugar, which had been given to the 
prisoners, and confiscated it to the use of the 
ship's crew. Our clothing v/as not taken 
away, but the privates were forced to do duty 
on board. Soon after this there came a boat 
to the side of the ship, and Captain Symonds 



64 ETHAN ALLEN*S 

asked a gentleman who was in it, in my hear- 
ing, what his business was? who answered 
that he was sent to dehver some sea-stores to 
Col. Allen, which, if I remember right, he said 
were sent from Dublin ; but the Capt. damned 
him very heartily, ordered him away from the 
ship, and would not suffer him to deliver the 
stores. I was furthermore informed that the 
gentlemen in Cork, requested of Captain Sy- 
ijionds, that I might be allowed to come into 
the city, and that they would be responsible 
I should return to the frigate at a given time, 
which was denied them. 

We sailed from England the eighth day of 
January, and from the cove of Cork the 12th 
day of February. Just before w^e sailed, the 
[prisoners with me were divided, and put on 
board three different ships of war. This gave 
me some uneasiness, for the}^ w^ere to a man 
zealous in the cause of liberty, and behaved 
with a becoming fortitude in the various scenes 
of their captivity ; but those, wtjo were dis- 
tributed on board other ships of war were much 
better used than those who tarried with me, 
as appeared afterwards. When the fleet, con- 
sisting of about forty-five sail, including five 



NARRATIVE. 65 

men of w ar, sailed from the cove with a fresh 
breeze, the appearance was beautiful, abstract- 
ed from the unjust and bloody designs they 
had in view. We had not sailed many days, 
before a mighty storm arose, which lasted near 
twenty-four hours without intermission. The 
wind blew with relentless fury, and no man 
could remain on deck, except he was lashed 
fast, for the waves rolled over the deck by 
turns, with a forcible rapidity and every soul 
on board was anxious for the preservation of 
the ship, alias, their lives. In this s(orm the 
Thunder-bomb man of war sprang aleak, and 
was afterwards floated to some part of the 
coast of England, and the crew saved. We 
were then said to be in the bay of Biscay. Af- 
ter the storm abated, i could plainly discern 
the prisoners were better used for some con- 
siderable time. 

Nothing of consequence happened after this, 
till we had sailed to the island of iVIaderia, ex- 
cept a certain favor I had received of Captain 
Symonds, in consequence of an application I 
made to him for the privilege of his tailor to 
make me a suit ot clothes of the cloth bestow- 
ed on me in Ireland, which he generously 
6* 



^^ ETHAN Allen's 

graiUed. I could then walk the deck with a 
seeming better grace. When we had reached 
Maderia, and anchored, sundry gentlemen 
with the Captain went on shore, who I conclude 
gave the rumor that I was in the frigate ; up- 
nu which I soon after found that Irish gener- 
osity was again excited ; for a gentlemen of 
the nation sent his r-lerk on board, to know of 
me if I would accept a sea-store from him, 
particularly of wine. This matter I made 
known to the generous Lieutenant Douglass, 
who readily granted me 4he fevor, provided 
the articles could be brought on board, during 
the time of his command ; adding that it would 
he a pleasure to him to serve me, notwithstand* 
ing the opposition he met with before. So I 
directed the «:entleman's clerk to inform him 
that I was gready in need of so signal a cha- 
rity, and desired the young gentleman to make 
the utmost despatch, which he did ; but in the 
mean time, Captain Symonds and his officers 
came on board, and immediately made ready 
for sailing; the wind at the same time being 
iair, set sail when the young gendeman was 
in fair sight with the aforesaid store. 

The reader will doubtless recollect the se- 



NARRATIVE. 67 

ven guineas I received at the cove of Cork. 
These enabled me to purchase of the purser 
what I wanted, had not the Captain strictly 
forbidden it, though I made sundry applica- 
tions to him for that purpose ; but his answer 
to me, when I was sick, was, that it was no 
matter how scon I was dead, and that he was 
no ways anxious to preserve the lives of re- 
bels, but wished them all dead ; and indeed 
that was the language of most of the ship's 
crew. 1 expostulated not only with the Cap- 
tain, but with other gentlemen onboard, on 
the unreasonableness of such usage ; inferring 
that, inasmuch as the government in England 
did not proceed against me as a capital offen- 
der, they should not ; for that they were by no 
means empow^ered by any authority, either 
civil or mihtary, to do so; for the English go- 
vernment had acquitted me by sending me 
back a prisoner of ^var to America, and that 
they should treat me as such. I farther drew 
an inference of impolicy on them, provided 
they should by hard usage destroy my life : 
inasmuch as I might, if living, redeem one of 
their officers ; but the Capt. replied, that he 
needed no directions of mine how to treat a 



68 ETHAN ALLE>'S 

rebel ; that the British would conquer the 
American rebels, hang the Congress, and such 
as promoted the rebellion, me in particular, 
and retake their own prisoners ; so that my 
life was of no consequence in the scale of their 
pohcy. [ gave him for answer that if they 
stayed till they conquired America, before 
they hanged me, / should die of old age, and 
desired that till such an event took place, he 
would at least allow me to purchase of the 
purser, for my own money, such articles as I 
greatly needed ; but he would not permit it, 
and when I reminded him of the generous and 
civil usage that their prisoners in captivity in 
xAmerica met with, he said that it v*^as not ow- 
ing to their goodness, but to their timidity ; 
for, said he, they expect to be conquered, and 
therefore dare not misuse our prisoners ; and 
in fact this was the language of the British of- 
ficers, till Gen. Burgoyne v.as taken ;* hap- 

*It was the plan of the British generals, to push a 
body of troops from New- York, to join General Bur- 
goyne at Albany, and by csiablisJing a line of British 
ports on the Hudson, to intercept the intercourse be- 
tween the New-England and Southern States. While 
General Burgoyne was attempting to advance toward* 



NARRATIVE. 69 

py event! and not only of the officers but of 
the whole British army. I appeal to all my 
brother prisoners, who have been with the 
British in the southern department, for a con- 
firmation of what I have advanced on this sub- 
ject. The surgeon ot the Solebay, whose 
name is North, was a very humane obliging 
man, and took the best care of the prisoners 
who were sick. 

The third day of May we cast anchor in the 
harbor of Cape Fear, in North Carolina, as 
did Sir Peter Parker's ship, of fifty guns, a 
litde back of the bar ; for there was no depth 

Albany, Generd Clinton with n. foiQeof tliree tboysnnd 
mei^ took possession of Fort Montgomery, after severe 
loss. General Vaughan, with a body of troops, on board 
of armed ships, sailed up the Hudson, as far as Livings- 
ton's manor, where he landed a party, burnt a large 
house bclongiDg to one of the family ; then sent a party 
to the opposite shore and laid in ashes the town of Kings- 
ton. I^ut General Burgoyne, despairing of the junction 
between bis army and the division from New-York, sur- 
rounded by a superior army, and unable to retreat, con- 
sented to capitulate, and on tlie I7th of October, sur- 
rendered to the American General. The detachment 
under General Vaugh?\n returned to New-York and the 
plan of the British commanders was totally frustrated. 



70 tTiiAN Allen's 

of water for Hm to come into the harbour. 
These two men of war, and fourteen sail of 
transports and others, came after, so that most 
of the fleet rendezvoused at Cape Fear, for 
three weeks. The soldiers on board the 
transports were sickly, in consequence oi so 
long a passage ; add to this, the small pox 
carried off many of them. They landed on 
the main, and formed a camp ; but the rifle- 
men annoyed them, and caused them to move 
to an island in the harbour ; but such cursing 
of riflemen I never heard^ 

A detachment of regulars was sent up 
Brunswick river ; as they landed, they were 
fired on by those marksmen, and they came 
back next day damning the rebels for their un- 
manly way of fighting, and swearing that they 
would give no quarter, for they took sight at 
ihem, and were behind timber skulking about. 
One of the detachments said they lost one 
man ; but a negro man who was with them, 
and heard what was said soon after told me 
that he helped to bury thirty-one of them ; 
this did me some good to find my countrymen 
giving them battle ; for I never heard such 
swaggering as among Gen. Clinton's little ar^ 



Narrative. tt^ 

my, who commanded at that time ; and I am 
apt to think there were four thousand men, 
though not two thirds of them fit for duty. I 
heard numbers of them say, that the trees in 
America should hang well with fruit that cam- 
paign for they would give no quarter. This 
was in the mouths of most who I heard speak 
on the subject, officer as well as soldier. I 
wished at that time my countrymen knew, as 
well as I did, what a murdering and cruel 
enemy they had to deal with ; but expe- 
rience has since taught this country, what 
they are to expect at the hands of Britons when: 
in their po^^er. 

The prisoners, who had been sent on board 
different men of war at the cove of Cork, 
were collected together, and the whole of 
them put on board the Mercury frigate Capt. 
James Montague, except one of the Canadi- 
ans, who died on the passage from Ireland, 
and Peter Noble, who made his escape from 
the Sphynx man-of-war in this harbour, and, 
by extraordinary swimming, got safe home to 
New-England, and gave intelligence of the 
usage of his brother prisoners. The Mer- 
cury set sail from this port for Halifax, about 



72 ETHAN Allen's 

the 20th of May, and Sir Peter Parker was 
about to sail with the land forces, under the 
command of Gen. Clinton, for the reduction 
of Charleston, the capital of South-Carolina, 
and when 1 heard of his defeat in HaUfax, it 
gave me inexpressible satisfaction, 

I now found myself under a worse Capt. 
than Symonds ; for Montague was loaded 
with prejudices against every body, and ev- 
ery thing that was not stamped with royalty ; 
and being by nature underwitted, his wrath 
was heavier than the others, or at least his 
mmd was in no instance liable to be diverted 
by good sense, humour or bravery, ot which 
Symonds was by turns susceptible. A Capt. 
Francis Proctor was added to our number ol 
prisoners when we were first put on board 
this ship. This gendeman had formerly be- 
longed to the English service. The Capt. 
and in fine, all the gentlemen of the ship, 
were very much incensed against him, and 
put him in irons without the least provoca- 
tion, and he was continued in this miserable 
situation about three months. In this pas- 
sage the prisoners were infected with the 
scurvy, some more and some less, but most 



NARRATIVE, 73 

of them severely. The ship*s crew was to a 
great degree troubled with it, and I conclu- 
ded that it was catching. Several ot the crew 
died with it on their passage. I was weak 
and feeble in consequence of so long and 
cruel a capiivity, yet had but little of the 
scurvy. 

The, purser was again e:xpressly forbid by 
the Captain to let me have any thing out of his 
store ; upon which I went upon deck, and in 
the handsomest manner requested the favor of 
purchasing a few necessaries of the purser, 
which was denied me ; he further told me, that 
I should be hanged as soon as I arrived at Hal- 
ifax. I tried to reason the matter with him, 
but found him proof against reason ; I also 
held up his honor to view, and his behavior to 
me and the prisoners m general, as being de- 
rogatory to it, but found his honor impenetra- 
ble. I then endeavored to touch his humanity, 
but found he had none ; for his prepossession 
of bigotry to his own party, had confirmed 
him in an opinion, that no humanity was due 
to unroyalrsts, but seemed to think that hea~ 
vea and earth were made merely to gratify the 
King and his creatures ; he uttered considera- 



74 ETHAN AIXEN*S 

ble unintelligible and grovelling ideas, a little 
tinctured with monarchy, but stood vvelf to 
his text of hanging me. He aiterwards for- 
bade his surgeon to administer any help to the 
sick prisoners. I was every night shut down 
in the cable tire, with the rest ot the prisoners, 
and we all hved miserably while under his 
power. But I received some generosity from 
several of the midshipmen, v/ho in degree al- 
leviated my misery ; one ot their names was 
Putrass, the names of the others 1 do not re- 
collect ; but they were obliged to be private 
in the bestowment o( their favor, which was 
sometimes good wine bitters, and at others a 
generous drink of grog. 

Sometime in the first v.eek of June, we 
came to anchor at the Hook off New York, 
where we remained but three days ; in which 
time Gov. Tryon, Mr. Kemp, the old attorney 
general of New York, and several other per- 
fidious and over-grown tories and land-jobbers, 
came on board. Tryon viewed me with a 
stera countenance, as I was walking on the 
leeward side of the deck, with the midship- 
men ; and he and his companions were walk- 
ing with the Captain and Lieutenant, on the 



NARRATIVE. 75 

windward side of the same, but never spoke 
to me, though it is altogether probable that he 
thought of the old quarrel between him, the 
old government of New York and the Green 
Mountain Boys. Then they went with the 
Captain into the cabin, and the same atternoon 
returned on board a vessel which lay near the 
Hook, where at that time they took sanctuary 
from the resentment of their injured country. 
What passed betw^een the officers of the ship 
and these visiters I know not ; but this 1 know 
that my treatment from the principal officers 
was more severe afterwards. 

We arrived at Halifax not far from the mid- 
dle of June, w^here the ship's crevv, which was 
infested with the scurvy, were taken on shore, 
and shallow trenches dug, into which they 
were put, and partly covered with earth. In- 
deed every proper measure was taken for their 
relief. The prisoners v/ere not permitted any 
sort of medicine, but were put on board a 
sloop which lay in the harbour, near the town 
of Halifax, surrounded with several men ol 
war and their tenders, and a guard constandy 
set over them, night and day. The sloop we 
had wholly to ourselves except the guard who 



76 ETHAN ALLKN's 

occupied the forecastle ; here we were cruelly 
pinched with hunger; it seemed to me that 
we had not more than one third of the com- 
mon allowance. We were all seized with vi- 
olent hunger and faintness ; we divided our 
scantly allowance as exact as possible. I 
shared the same late with the rest, and though 
they offered me more than an even share, I 
refused to accept it, as it was a time of sub- 
stantial distress, which in my opinion I ought 
to partake equally with the rest, and set an 
example of virtue and fortitude to our little 

commonwealth. 

I sent letter after letter to Capt. Montague, 
who still had the care of us, and also to his 
Lieutenant, whose name 1 cannot call to mind, 
but could obtain no answer, much less a re- 
dress of grievances.; and to add to the calam- 
ity, near a dozen of the prisoners were dange- 
rously ill of the scurvy. I wrote private let- 
ters to the doctors, to procure, if possible, 
some remedy for the sick, but in vain. The 
chief physician came by in a boat, so close 
that the oars touched the sloop that we were 
in, and I uttered my complaint in the genteel- 
est manner to him, but he never so much as 



NARUATIVE. 7/ 

turned his head, or made me any answer, 
though I continued speaking till he got out of 
hearing. Our cause then became very, deplo- 
rable. Still I kept writing to the Captain, 
till he ordered the guards as they told me, not 
to bring any more letters from me to him. In 
the mean time an event happened worth rela- 
ting. One oi the men almost dead oi the 
gcurvy, lay by the side of the sloop, and a ca- 
noe of Indians coming by, he purchased two 
quarts of strawberries, and ate them at once, 
and it almost cured him. The money he gave 
for them, was all the money he had in th« 
world. After that we tried every way to pro- 
cure more of that fruit, reasoning from analogy 
that they might have the same effect on others 
infested with the same disease, but could ob- 
tain none. 

Meanwhile the Doctor's mate of the Mer- 
cury came privately on board the prison sloop 
and presented me uith a large vial of smart 
drops, which proved to be good for the scurvy, 
though vegetables and some other ingredients 
were requisite for a cure; but the dropa gave 
at least a check to the disease. This was a 
weU-ti:ned exertion of humanity, but the Doc- 

•7* 



78 ETHAN ALLEN^S 

tor's name has slipped my mind, and in my 
opinion, it was the means of saving the hves 
of several men. 

The guard, which was set over us, was by 
this time touched with the feelings of compas- 
sion ; and I finally trusted one of them with a 
letter of complaint to Governor Arbuthnot, of 
Halifax, which he found means to communi- 
cate, and which had the desired effect; for 
the Governor sent an officer and surgeon on 
board the prison sloop, to know the truth of 
the complaint. The officer's name was Rus- 
sei, who held the rank of Lieutenant, and 
treated me in a friendly and polite manner, 
and was really angry at the cruel and unman- 
ly usage the prisoners met with; and with the 
surgeon made a true report of matters to Gov. 
x\rl)uthnot, who, either by his order or influ- 
ence, took us next day from the prison sloop 
to Halifax gaol, where I first became acquaint- 
ed with the now Hon. James Lovel, one of the 
members of Congress for the state of Massa- 
chusetts. The sick were taken to the hospi- 
tal, nnd the Canadians, v/ho v/ere effective, 
were employed in the King's works ; and 
when, their countrvmen were recovered from 



NARRATIVE. 79 

the scurvy and joined them, they all deserted 
the King's employ, and were not heard of at 
Haliiax, as long as the remainder of the pri- 
soners continued there, which was till near the 
middle of October. We were on board the 
prison sloop about six weeks, and were land- 
ed at Haliiax near the middle of August. Sev- 
eral of our English American prisoners, who 
were cured of the scurvy at the hospital, made 
their escape from thence, and alter a long dme 
reached their old habitations. 

I had now but thirteen with me, of those 
who were taken in Canada, and remained in 
goal with me in Halifax, who, ia addition to 
those that were impinsoned before, made our 
number about thirty-four, who were all locked 
up in one common large room, without regard 
to rank, education or any other accomplish- 
ment, where we continued irorn the setting 
to the rising sun ; and, as sundry of them were 
infected with the jail and other distempers, the 
furniture of this spacious room consisted prin- 
cipally of excrement tubs. We petitioned for 
a removal of the sick into the hospitals but 
were denied. We remonstrated against the 
ungenerous usage of being confined with the 



80 ETHAN Allen's 

privates, as being contrary to the laws and 
customs of nations, and particularly ungrateful 
in them, in consequence of the gentleman-like 
usage which the British imprisoned officers 
met w^ith in America ; and thus w^e wearied 
ourselves, petitioning and remonstrating, but 
to no purpose at all ; for Gen. Massey, who 
commanded at Halifax, was as inflexible as 
the devil himself, a fine preparative this for 
Mr. Lovel, member of the Continental Con- 
gress. 

Lieutenant Russel, w hem ! have mentioned 
before, came to visit me in prison, and assured 
me that he had done his utmost to procure my 
parole for enlargement; at which a British 
Captain, who was then the town-major, ex- 
pressed compassion for the gentlemen confin- 
ed in the filthy placCj and assured me that he 
had used his influence to procure their enlarge- 
ment ; his name was near like Ramsey. A- 
mong the prisoners there were dye in number, 
who had a legal claim to a parole, viz. James 
Lovel, Esq. Captain Francis Proctor, a Mr. 
Howland, master of a Continental armed ves- 
sel, a Mr. Taylor, his mate and myself. 

As to the article of provision, we were well 



NARRATIVE. 81 

served, much better than in any part of m j 
captivity ; and since it was Mr. Level's mis- 
fortune and mine to be prisoners, and in so 
wretched circumstrnces, 1 was happy that we 
were together as a mutual support to each 
other, and to the unfortunate prisoners with 
us. Our first attention was the preservation 
of ourselves and injured little republic ; the 
rest of our time we devoted interchangeably 
to politics and philosophy, as patience was a 
needful exercise in so evil a situation, but con- 
tentment mean and Impracticable* 

I had not been in this gaol many days, be- 
fore a worthy and charitable woman, Mrs, 
Blacflen, by name, supplied me with a good 
dinner of fresh meats every day, with garden 
fruit, and sometimes with a bottle of wine ; 
notwithstanding which 1 had not been more 
than three wrecks in this place before I lost 
all appetite to the most delicious food, by 
the gaol distemper, as also did sundry of the 
prisoners, particularly a sergeant Moore, a 
man of courage and fidelity. I have several 
times seen him hold the boatswain of the 
Solebay frigate, when he attempted to strike 



82 KTHAN ALLE^^'aJ 

liiiii, and laughed him out of conceit of using 
him as a slave. 

A doctor visited the sick, and did the best, 
as I suppose, he could for them, to no appa- 
rent purpose. I grew weaker and weaker, 
as did the rest. Several of them could not 
help themselves. At last I reasoned in my 
own mind, that raw onion would be good. I 
made use of it, and found immediate relief 
by it, as did the sick in general, particularly 
sergeant Moore, whom it recovered almost 
from the shades; though I had met with a 
httle revival, still I found the malignant hand 
of Britain had greatly reduced my constitu- 
tion with stroke upon stroke. Esquire Lovel 
and myself used every argument and en- 
treaty that could be w^ell conceived of in or- 
der to obtain gentleman-like usage, to no pur- 
pose. I then wrote Gen. Massey as severe 
a letter as I possibly could with my friend 
LovePs assistance. 1 he contents of it was 
to give the British, as a nation, and him as an 
individual, their true character. This roused 
the rascal, for he could not bear to see his 
and the nation's deformity in that transparent 
letter, which I sent him ; he therefore put 



NAHRATIVE. 83 

himself in a great rage about it, and shewed 
the letter to a number of British ofhcers, par- 
ticularly to Capt. Smith of the Lark frigate, 
who, instead of joining with hirn in disappro- 
bation, commended the spirit of it; upon 
which Gen. Massey said to him, do you take 
the part of a rebel against me ? Capt Smith 
answered that he rather spoke his sentiments, 
and there was a dissension in opinion between 
them. Some officers took the part of rhe 
General, and others of the captain . 1 his I 
was informed of by a gentleman who had it 
from Capt. Smith. 

In a few days alter this, the prisoners were 
ordered to go on board of a man of war, 
which was bound for New-York ; but two 
of them were not able to go on board, and 
were left at Halifax ; one died, and the other 
recovered. This was about the 12th of Oc- 
tober, and soon after we had got on board, 
the Captain sent tor me in particular to come 
on the quarter deck, I went, not knowing 
that it was Capt. Smith, or his ship at that 
time, and expected to meet the same rigor- 
ous usage I had commonly met with, and 
prepared my mind accordingly ; but when I 



, ^"^ ETHAN Allen's 

came on deck, the Captain met me with his 
hand, welcomed me to his ship, invited me to 
dine with him that day, and assured me that 
I should be treated as a gendeman, and that 
he had given orders, that I should be treated 
with respect by the ship's crew. This was 
so unexpected and sudden a transition, that 
it drew tears from my eyes, which all the 
ill usage I had before met with, was not able 
to produce, nor could I at first hardly speak, 
but soon recovered myself and expressed 
my gratitude for so unexpected a favor ; 
nnd let him know that I felt anxiety of mind 
in reflecdng that his situation andmine was 
such, that it was not probable that it would 
ever be in my power to return the favor. 
Capt. Smith replied, that he had no reward 
m view, but only treated me as a gendeman 
ought to be treated; he said this is a muta- 
ble world, and one gentleman never knows 
but that it may be in his power to help anoth- 
er. Soon after I found this to be the same 
Capt. Smith who took my part against Gen. 
Massey; but he never mentioned anything 
of it to me, and I thought it impolite in me 
to interrogate hmi, as to any disputes which 



NARRATIVE. 85 

might have arisen between him and the Gen- 
eral on my account, as I was a prisoner, and 
that it was at his option to make free with 
me on that subject, if he pleased ; and if he 
did not, I might take it for granted that it would 
be unpleasing for me to query about it, though 
I had a strong propensity to converse with 
him on that subject. 

I dined with the Captain agreeable to his 
invitation, and oftentimes with the Lieutenant^ 
in the gun-room, but in general ate and drank 
with my friend Lovel and the other gentlemen 
who were prisoners with me, where I also 
slept. 

We had a little birth enclosed w ith canvas, 
between decks, where we enjoyed ourselves 
very well, in hopes of an exchange ; besides, 
our friends at Halifax had a little notice of 
our departure, and supplied us with spirituous 
liquor, and many articles of provision for the 
cost. Capt. Burk, having been taken pris- 
oner, was added to our company, (he had 
commanded an American armed vessel) and 
was generously treated by the Captain and all 
the officers of the ship, as well as myself. We 
now had in all near thirty prisoners on board. 



86 ETHAN ALLEN*S 

and as we were sailing along tiie coast, it 1 
recollect right, off Rhode-Island, Capt. Burk, 
with an under officer of the ship, whose name 
J do not recollect, came to our little birth, pro^ 
posed to kill Capt. Smith and the principal 
officers of the frigate and take it ; adding 
that there were thirty-five thousand pounds 
sterling in the same. Capt. Burk likewise 
averred that a strong party out of the ship's 
crew was in the conspiracy, and urged me, 
and the gentleman that was with me, to use 
our influence with the private prisoners, to 
execute the design, and take the ship with 
the cash into one of our own ports. 

Upon which I replied, that we had been too 
well used on board to murder the officers; 
that I could by no means reconcile it to my 
conscience, and that in fact it should not be 
done ; and w^hile 1 was yet s])eaking, my 
friend Level confirmed what I had said, and 
farther pointed out the ungratefulness ol such 
an act ; that it did not fall short of murder, 
and in fine all the gentlemen in the birth op- 
posed Capt. Burk and his colleague. But 
they strenuously urged that the conspiracy 
would be found out, and that it would cost 



NARRATIVE. 87 

them their hves, provided they did not exe- 
cute their design. I then interposed spirit- 
edly, and put an end to further argument on 
the subject, and told them that they might de- 
pend upon it, upon my honor, that I would 
faithfully guard Capt. Smith's life : If they 
should attempt the assault, I vvould assist 
him, for they desired me to remain neuter, 
and that the same honor that guarded Capt. 
Smith's life, would also guard theirs ; and it 
w^as agreed by those present not to reveal the 
conspiracy, to the intent that no man should 
be put to death, in consequence of what had 
been projected ; and Capt. Burk and his col- 
league went to sdfle the matter among their 
associates. I could not help calling to mind 
what Capt. ^-mith said to me, when I first 
came on board : "This is a mutable w'orld, 
and one gentleman never knows but that it 
may be in his power to help another." Capt. 
Smith and his officers still behaved with ?heir 
usual courtesy, and I never heard any more 
of the conspiracy. 

We arrived before New-York, and cast an- 
chor the latter part of October where we re- 
mained several days, and where Capt. Smith 



88 ETHAN Allen's 

informed me, that he had recommended me 
to Adm. Howe and Gen. Sir Vim, Howe, as 
a gentleman of honor and veracity, and desi- 
red that I might be treated as such. Capt. 
Burk was then ordered on board a prison-ship 
in the harbor. I took my leave of Capt. 
Smith, and wath the other prisoners, was sent 
on board a transport- ship, which lay in the 
harbour, commanded by Capt. Graige, who 
took nie into the cabi i w4th him and his 
Lieut. I fared as they did, and was in eve- 
ry respect well treated, in consequence of di- 
rections from Capt. Smith. In a kw weeks 
after this I had the happiness to part wdth my 
friend Level, for his sake, whom the enemy 
aiected to treat as a private ; he was a gen- 
tleman of merit, and liberally educated, but 
had no commission ; they maligned him on ac- 
count of his unshaken attachment to the cause 
o^ his country. He w^as exchanged for a 
Gov. Phillip Skene of the British. I was 
continued in this ship till the latter part of 
November, w^here I contracted an acquaint- 
ance with the Capt. of the Bridsh ; his name 
Las slipped my memory. He was what we 
may call a genteel hearty fellow. I rem em- 



NARRATIVE. 89 

her an expression of his over a bottle of wine, 
to this import : " That there is a greatness of 
soul for personal friendship to subsist between 
you and me, as w^e are upon opposite sides, 
and may at another day be obliged to face 
each other in the field." I am confident that 
he was as faithful as any ofiicer in the Brit- 
ish army. At another sitting ho offered to 
bet a dozen of wir)e, that fort Washington 
would be in the hands of the British in three 
days. I stood the bet, and would, had 1 
known that that would have been the case; 
and tho third day afterwards w^e heard a pro- 
digious heavy cannonade, and that day the 
fort was taken sure enouidi. Some months 

o 

alter, when I w^as on parole, he called upon 
me \^iih his usual humour, and mentioned 
the bet. ,1 acknowledged ! had lost it, but 
he said he did not mean to take it then, as I 
was a prisoner ; that he would another day 
call on me, when their army came to Ben- 
nington, f replied, that he w^as quite too 
generous, as I had fairly lost it ; besides, the 
Green Mountain Boys would. not suffer them 
to come to Bennington. This was all in good 

humour. I should have been glad to have 
8* 



90 ETHAN ALLEN's 

seen him alter the defeat at Bennington, but 
<lid not. It was customary for a guard to 
pttend the prisoners, which was often chang- 
ed. One was composed of tories from Conr- 
necticut, in the vicinity of Fairfield and Green 
Farms, The sergeant's name was Hoit. 
They were very full of their invectives against 
the country, swaggered of their loyalty to 
their king, and exclaimed bitterly against the 
** cowardly yankies,^' as they were pleased 
to {term them, but finally contented them- 
*el'/es with saying, that when the country 
was overcome^ they should be well reward- 
ed {'or their loyalty out of the estates- of the 
whigs, v^'bich would be confiscated. This I 
found to be the e;eneral lana:ua2;e of tories, 
after I arrived from England on the Ameri- 
caa coast. I heard sundry of them relate, 
tliat the British Generals had engaged them 
an ample reward for all their losses, disap- 
pointments and expenditures, out of the for- 
ich.'.^A rebels' estates. This language early 
taught me what to do with tories' estates, as 
far as my iiitiuence can go. For it is really 
a garae of hazard between whig and tory. 
I'he whigs mu^t inevitably have lost all, in 



^ NARRATIVE. 91 

consequence ol the abilities of the lories, 
and their good friends^ the British,; and it is 
no more than right the tories should run the 
same risk, in consequence of the abihties 
of the whigs : But of this more will it»e ob- 
served in the sequel of this narrative. 

Some of the last days of November, the 
:prisoners were landed at New-Yorkj and I 
was admitted to parole with the other offi- 
cers, viz. Proctor, Howland and Taylor.- — 
The privates w^ere put into the filthy church- 
es in New- York, with the distressed prison- 
ers that were taken at tort Washmgton ; and 
the second night, sergeant Roger Moorej .who 
was bold and enterprizing, found means to 
make his escape with every of the remain- 
ing |>iisoners that were taken with me, ex- 
cept three, who were soon after exchanged : 
So that out of thirty-one prisoners, w^ho went 
with me the round exhibited in these sheets, 
two only died with the enemy, and three on- 
ly were exchanged; one of whom diedafter 
he came within our lines ; all the rest, at dif- 
ferent times, made their escape from the. en- 
emy. 

I n©w found myself on parole, and restrict- 



92 ETHAN Allen's 

ed to the limits of the city of New- York, 
where I soon projected means to Hve in some 
measure agreeable to my rank, though I was 
destitute of cash. My constitution was al- 
most worn out by such a long and barbarous 
captivity. The enemy gave out that I was 
crazy, and wholly unmanned, but my vitals 
held sound, nor v;as I delirious any more 
than I have been from youth up; but my ex- 
treme circumstances, at certain times, render- 
ed it political to act in some measure the mad- 
man ; and in consequence of a regular diet 
and exercise, my blood recruited, and my 
nerves in a ffrcat measure recovered their for- 
mer tone, strength and usefulness, in the 
course of six months. 

I next invite the reader to a retrospective 
sight and consideration of the doleful scene 
of inhumanity, exercised by Gen. Sir Will- 
iam Howe, and the army under his command, 
towards the prisoners taken on Long-Island, 
on the 27th day of August, 1776 ; sundry of 
v/hom were, in an inhuman and barbarous 
manner, murdered after they had surrender- 
ed their arms ; particularly a Gen Odel, or 
Woodhul, of the militia, who was hacked to 



:NARRATXVJi:. 93 

pieces with cutlasses, when alive, by the light 
horsemen, and a Capt. Fellows, of the Conti- 
nental army, who was thrust through with a 
bayonet, of which wound he died instantly. 
Sundry others were hanged up by the neck 
dll they were dead ; five on the limb of a 
white oak tree, and witliout any reason as- 
signed, except that they were fighting in de- 
fence of the only blessing worth preserving : 
And indeed those who had the misfortune to 
fall into their hands at fort Washsngton, in 
the month of Nov, following, rnet with but 

Very little better usage, excepi: that they 
were reserved from immediate death to fam- 
ish and die with hunger ; in fine, the word 
rebel, apphed to any vanquished persons, 
v/ithout regard to rank, who were in the con- 
tinental service, on the 27th. of August afore- 
said, was thought, by the enemy, sufficient 
to sanctity whatever cruelties they were pleas- 
ed to inflict, death itself not excepted ; but 
to pass over particulars which would swell 
my narrative far beyond my design. 

The private soldiers, who were brought to 
New-York, were crowded into churches, and' 
environed with slavish Hessian guards, a peo- 



94 ETHAN A1.LE.N*S 

pie of a strange language, who were sent to 
America for no other design but crueUy and 
desolation ; and at others, by merciless Brit- 
ons, whose mode of communicating ideas be- 
ing intelligible in this country served only to 
tantalize and insult the helpless and perishing; 
but above all, the hellish delight and triumph 
of the tories over them, as they were dying 
by hundreds. This was too much lor me to 
bear as a spectator ; for I saw the tories ex- 
uhin.2; over the dead bodies of their murder- 
ed countrymen. I have gone into the church- 
es, and seen sundry of the prisoners in the 
agonies of death, in consequence of very 
hunger, and others speechless, and near death, 
biting pieces of chips ; others pleading for 
God's sake, for something to eat, and at the 
same time, shivering with the cold. Hollow 
groans saluted my ears, and despair seemed 
to be imprinted on every of their countenan- 
ces. The filth in these churches, in conse- 
quence of the fluxes, was almost bsyond de- 
scripUon. The fxoors were covered w^ith ex- 
crements. I have carefully sought to direct 
my steps so as to avoid it, but could not. 
They would beg for God's sake for one cop- 



KARRAT1V£.- 95 

per, or rporsel of bread. I have seen in 
one of these churches seven dead, at the 
same time, lying among the excrements of 
their bodies. 

It was a common practice with the enemy,^ 
to convey the dead from these fiidiy places, 
in carts, to be slightly buried, and I have seen 
whole gangs of tories making derision, and 
exulting over the dead, saying, there goes 
another load of damned rebels. I have ob- 
served the British soldiers to be full of their 
black-guard jokes, and vaunting on those oc- 
casions, but they appeared to me less malig- 
nant than tories. 

The provision dealt out to the prisoners 
was by no means sufficient ibr the support of 
life. It was deficient in quantity, and much 
more so in quality. The prisoners often pre- 
sented me with a sample ot their bread, which 
1 certify was damaged to that degree, that it 
was loathsome and unfit to be eaten, and I 
am bold to aver it, as my opinion, that it had 
been condemned, and was of the very worst 
sort. I have seen and been fed upon dama- 
ged bread, in the course of my captivit}^, and 
observed the quality of such bread as has 



96 ETHAN Allen's 

been condemned by the enemy, among which 
was very httle so effectually spoiled as what 
was dealt out to these prisoners. Their al- 
lowance of meat (as they told me) was quite 
trifling, and of the basest sort. I never saw 
any of it, but was informed, bad as it was, it 
was swallowed almost as quick as they got 
hold of it. I saw some of them sucking bones 
after they were speechless ; others, who could 
yet speak, and had the use of their reason, 
urged me, in the strongest and most pathetic 
manner, to use my interest in their behalf; 
for you plainly see, said they, that we are de- 
voted to death and destruction ; and after I 
had examined more particularly into their tru- 
ly deplorable condition, and had become more 
fully apprized of the essential facts, I was 
persuaded that it was a premediated and sys- 
tematical plan of the British council, to de- 
stroy the youths of our land, with a view 
(hereby to deter the country, and make it sub- 
mit to their despotism ; but that I could not 
do them any material service, and that, by 
any public attempt for that purpose, I might 
endanger myself by " frequenting places the 
most nauseous and contagious that could be 



N\HKATIVE. 97 

conceived of. I refrained going into the church- 
es, but frequently conversed with such of the 
prisoners as were admitted to come out into 
the yard, and found that the systematical usage 
still continued. The guard would often drive 
me away with their fixed bayonets. A Hes- 
sian one day followed me five or six rods, but 
by making use of my legs, I got rid of the lub- 
ber. Sometimes I could obtain a little con- 
versation, notwithstanding their severities. 

I was in one of the church yards, and it was 
rumored among those in the church, and sun- 
dry o{ the prisoners came with their usual 
complaints to me, and among the rest a large 
boned, tall young man, as he told me, from 
Pennsylvania, who was reduced to a mere 
skeleton ; he said he was glad to see me be- 
fore he died, which he had expected to have 
done last night, but was a little revived ; he 
farthermore informed me, that he and his 
brother had been urged to enlist into the Brit- 
ish, but had both resolved to die first ; that 
his brother had died last night, in consequence 
of that resolution, and that he expected short- 
ly to follow him ; but I made the other prison- 
ers stand a Htde off, and told him with a low 
9 



98 ETHAN Af.LEK's 

voice to enlist ; he then asked, whether it was 
right in the sight of God? 1 assured him that 
it was, and that duty to himself obhged him 
to deceive the British by enhsting and deser- 
ting the first opportunity; upon which he an- 
swered with transport, that he would enlist. 
I charged him not to mention my nfime as his 
adviser, lest it should get air, and I should be 
closely confined, in consequence of it. The 
integrity of these suffering prisoners is hardly 
credible. Many hundreds, I am confident, 
submitted to death, rather than to enlist in the 
British service, which, I am informed, they 
most generaly were pressed to do. I was as- 
tonished at the resolution of the two broth- 
ers particularly ; it seems that they could not 
be stimulated to such exertions of heroism 
from ambition, as they were but obscure sol- 
diers ; strong indeed must the internal princi- 
ple of virtue be, which supported them to 
brave death, and one of them went through 
the opperation, as^^ did many hundred others. 
I readily grant that instances of public virtue 
are no excitement to the sordid and vicious, 
nor, on the otlier hand, will all the barbarity 
of Britain and lieshland awaken them to a 



NARRATIVE. 99 

sense of their duty to the pubhc ; but these 
things will have their proper effect on the 
generous and brave. — The officers on parole 
were most of them zealous, if possible, to af- 
ford the miserable soldiery relief, and often 
consulted with one another on the subject, 
but to no effect, being destitute ot the means 
of subsistance, which they needed ; nor could 
the officers project any measure, which they 
thought would alter their fate, or so much as 
be a mean of getting them out of those ffithy 
places to the privilege of fresh air. Some pro- 
jected that all the officers should go in proces- 
sion to Gen. Howe, and plead the cause of the 
perishing soldiers ; but this proposal was ne- 
gatived for the following reasons, viz. because 
that Gen. Howe must needs be well acquaint- 
ed, and have a thorough knowledge of the 
state and condition of the prisoners in every 
of their wretched apartments, and that much 
more particular and exact than any officer on 
parole could be supposed to have, as the Gen- 
eral had a return ot the circumstances of the 
prisoners, by his own officers, every morning, 
of the number which were alive, as also the 
number which died every twenty four hours ; 



100 ETHAN ALLF.n's 

and consequently the bill of mortality, as collec- 
ted from the daily returns, lay before him with 
all the material situations and circumstances 
of the prisoners ; and provided the officers 
should go in procession to Gen. Howe, accor- 
ding to the projection, it would give him the 
greatest affront, and that he would either re- 
tort upon them, that it was no part of their 
parole to instruct him in his conduct to priso- 
ners ; that they were mutinying against his 
authority, and, by affronting him, had forfeited 
their parole ; or that, more probably, instead of 
saying one v/ord to them, w^ould order them 
all into as wretched confinement as the sol- 
diers whom they sought to relieve ; for, at 
that time, the British, from the General to the 
private centinel, were in full confidence, nor 
did they so much as hesitate, but that they 
should conquer the country. Thus the con- 
sultation of the officers was confounded and 
broken to pieces, in consequence ol the dread, 
which at that time lay on their minds, of of- 
fending Gen. Howe; for they conceived so 
murderous a tyrant would not be too good to 
destroy even the officers, on the least pretence 
of an affront, as they were equally in his pow- 



NARRATIVE. 101 

er with the soldiers ; and, as Gen. Howe per- 
fectly understood the condition of the private 
soldiers, it was argued that it was exactly 
such as he and his council had devised, and 
as he meant to destroy them it would be to 
no purpose for them to try to dissuade him 
from it, as they were helpless and liable to 
the same fate, on giving the least affront ; in- 
deed anxious apprehensions disturbed them 
in their then circumstances. 

Mean time mortality raged to such an in- 
tolerable degree among the prisoners, that the 
very school boys in the streets icnew the men- 
tal design of it in some measure ; at least, 
they knew that they were starved to death. 
Some -poor women contributed to their ne- 
cessity, till their children were alm.ost starv- 
ed, and all persons of common understand- 
ing knew that they were devoted to the cru- 
dest and worst of deaths. It was also pro- 
posed by some to make a written representa- 
tion of the condition of the soldiery, and the 
officers to sign it, and that it should be couch- 
ed in such terms, as though they were appre- 
hensive that the General wae imposed upon 

by his officers, in their daily returns to him- 
9* 



102 ETHAN Allen's 

of the state and condition ol the prisoners ; 
and that therefore the officers, moved with 
compassion, were constrained to communi- 
cate to him the facts relative to them, nothing 
doubting but that they would meet with a 
speedy redress ; but this proposal was most 
generally negatived also, and for much the 
same reason offered in the other case ; for it 
was conjectured that Gen, Howe's indigna- 
tion would be moved against such officers as 
should attempt to v/hip him over his officers' 
backs ; that he would discern that himself 
was really struck at, and not the oilicers who 
made the daily returns ; and therefore self 
preservation deterred the officers from either 
petitioning or reuKmstrating (o Gen. Flowe, 
either verbally or in writing ; as also the con- 
sideration that no-valuable purpose to the dis- 
tressed would be obtained. 

I made several rough drafts on the subject, 
one of which I exhibited to the Cols. Ma- 
ga\i^, Miles, and Atlee, and they said that they 
would consider the matter ; soon after I caU- 
ed on them, and some of the gentlemen in- 
formed me, that they had written to the Gen- 
eral on the subject, and I concluded that the 



NARRATIVE. 103 

gentlemen thought it best that they should 
write without me, as there was such spirited 
aversion subsisting between the British and 
me. 

In the mean time a Col. Hussecker, of the 
continental army, as he then reported, was 
taken prisoner, and brought to New-York, 
who gave out that the country was almost uni- 
versally submitting to the English king's au- 
thority, and that there would be little or no 
more opposition to Great- Britain. This at 
first gave the oincers a little shock, but in a 
few days they recovered themselves ; for this 
Col, Hussecker, being a German, was feast- 
ing with Gen. l)e Heister, his countryman, 
and from his conduct they were apprehensive 
that he was a knave ; at least he v, as esteem- 
ed so by most of the officers ; it was never- 
theless a day of trouljle. The enemy blas- 
phemed. Our little army was retreating in 
New-Jersey, and our young men murdered 
by iKindreds in New-York. The army of 
Britain and Ileshland prevailed for a little 
season, as though it was ordered by Heaven 
to shew, to the latest posterity, what the Brit- 
ish would have done if they could, and what 



104 ETHAN ALLEN*S 

the general calamity must have been, in con-^ 
sequence of their conquering the country, 
and to excite every honest man to stand forth 
in the defence of hberty, and to estabhsh the 
independency of the United States of Amer- 
ica lorever. But this scene of adverse for- 
tune did not discourage a Washington. The 
illustrious American hero remained immovea- 
ble. In hberty 's cause he took up his sword. 
This reflection was his support and consola- 
tion in the day ot his humiUation, when he re- 
treated before the enemy, through New-Jer- 
sey into Pennsylvania. Their triumph only 
roused his indignation ; and the important 
cause of his country, which lay near his heart, 
moved him to cross the Delaware again, and 
take ample satisfaction on his pursuers. No 
sooner had he circumvallated his haughty 
foes, and appeared in terrible ai'ray, but the 
host of Heshland fell. This tauo'ht America 
the intrinsic worth of perseverance, and the 
generous sons of freedom flew to the stan- 
dard of their commqn safeguard and defence ; 
from which time the arm of American liberty 
hatb prevailed.* 

*The American nrmy i>e'mg greatly reduced bj the 



JVARRATIVE. 105 

This surprize and capture of the Hessians 
enraged the enemy, who were still vastly 
more numerous than the continental troops. 
They therefore collected, and marched from 
Princetown, to attack Gen. Washington, who 
was then at Trenton, having previously left 
a detachment irom their main body at Prince- 



loss of men triken prisoners, and by the departure ot 
men whos^e inlistinents had expired, General Washing- 
ton was obliged to retreat towards Pliiladelphia ; Gener- 
al Howe, exulting in his successes, pursued him, not- 
withstanding the weather was severely cold. To add to 
the disasters of the Americans, General Lee was surpri- 
sed and taken prisoner at Baskenridge. In this gloomy 
state of affairs, niany persoi s joined the British cause 
and look protection. But a small band of heroes check" 
ed the tide of British success. A division of Hessians 
had advanced to Trenton, where they reposed in securi- 
ty. General Washington was on the opposite side of 
tne Delaware, with about three thousand men, many of 
whom were without shoes or convenient clothing ; and 
the river was covered with floating ice. But the gener- 
al knew the importance of striking sotne successful 
blow, to animate tl o expiring hopes of the country ; and 
on the night of Deceiiiber 25th, crossed the river, and 
fell on the enemy by surprise, and look the whole body 
consisting of about nine hundred men. A few were 
killed, among whom was colonel llahl the commapder. 



106 ETHAN Allen's 

town, for the support of that place. This 
was a trying time, for our worthy General, 
though in possession of a late most astonish- 
ing victory, was by no means able to with- 
stand the collective torce ot the enemy ; but 
his sagacity soon suggested a stratagem to ef- 
fect that which, by force, to him was at that 
time impracticable. He therefore amused the 
enemy with a number of fires, and in the 
night made a forced m-irch, undiscovered by 
them, and next morning fell in with their rear 
guard at Princetown, and killed and took most 
oF them prisoners. The main body too late 
perceived their rear was attacked, hurred 
back with all speed, but to their mortification, 
found they were out-generalled, and baffled 
by Gen. Washington, Avho was retired with 
his little army towards Morristown, and was 
out of their power.* These repeated suc- 
cesses, one on the back of the other, cha- 
grmed the enemy prodigiously, and had an 

*0!i the 2d of January, 1777, lord Cornwallis appear- 
ed near Trenton, with a strong body of troops. Skir- 
mishing took place, and impeded the march of the Brit- 
ish army, until the Americans had secured their artille- 
ry and baggage; when they retired to the southward of 



karratWi?. i07 

amazing operation in the scale of American 
politics, and undoubtedly was one of the corn- 
er stones, on which their fair structure of In- 
dependency has been fabricated for the coun- 
try at no one time has ever been so much dis- 
pirited as just before the morning of this glo- 
rious success, which in part dispelled the 
gloomy clouds of oppression and slavery, which 
lay pending over America^ big with the ruin 
of this and future genemtions, and enlighten- 
ed and spirited her sons to redouble their 

the creek, and repulsed the enemy in tlieir attempt lo 
pass the bridge. As Gener.li Wushington's force w a?' 
not sufficient to meet the enemy, and his situation was 
critical, he determined, with the advlcn of a council of 
war, to attempt a stratap-em. He gave orders for the 
irooj>s to light fires in their camp, (which were intend- 
ed to deceive the enem},) and be prepared to march. 
Accordingly at twelve o'clock at sight the troops left 
the f^round, and by a circuitous march, eluded the vigi- 
lence of the enemy, and early in the morning appeared' 
at Princetown. A smart actiofi ensued, but the British 
troops gave way. A party took refuge in the college, a 
building with strong stone walls, but were forced to sur- 
render. The enemy lost in killed, wounded and prif»- 
oners, abotit five hundred men. The Americans lout 
but few men ;'- but among them was a most valuable offi- 
cer, General Mepcer. 



108 ETHAN Allen's 

blows on a merciless, and haughty, and I may 
add, perfidious enemy. 

Farthermore, this success had a mighty ef- 
fect on Gen. Howe and his council, and rous- 
ed them to a sense of their own weakness, 
and convinced them that they were neither 
omniscient nor omnipotent. Their obduracy 
and death-designing malevolence, in some 
measure, abated or was suspended The 
prisoners, who were condemned to the most 
wretched and ciuelest ot deaths, and who 
survived to this period, though most ot them 
died before, were iminediately ordered to be 
sent within Gen. Washington's lines, for an 
exchange, and, in consequence of it, were 
taken out of their filthy and poisonous places 
of confinement, and sent of New-York to 
their friends in haste ; several of them fell 
dead in the streets of New -York, as they at- 
tempted to walk to the vessels in the harbor, 
for their intended embarkation. What num- 
bers Hved to reach the lines I cannot ascer- 
tain, but, from concurrent representations 
which I have since received from numbers of 
people who lived in and adjacent to such 
parts of the country, where they were re- 



NARRATIVE. 109 

ceived from the enemy, I apprehend that 
most of them died in consequence of the 
vile usage of the enemy. Some who were 
eye-witnesses of that scene of mortahty, more 
especially in that part which continued after 
the exchange took place, are of opinion, that 
it was partly in consequence of a slow pois- 
on ; but this I refer to the doctors that at- 
tended them, who are certainly the best jud- 
ges. 

Upon the best calculation I have been able 
to make from personal knowledge, and the 
many evidences I have collected in support 
of the facts, I learn that, of the prisoners ta- 
ken on Long-Island, fort Washington, and 
some few others, at different times and places, 
about two thousand perished with hunger, 
cold and sickness, occasioned by the filth of 
their prisoners, at New-York, and a number 
more on their passage to the continental Hnes; 
most of the residue, who reached their friends, 
having received; their death wound, could not 
be restored by the assistance of physicians 
and friends ; but, like their brother prisoners, 
fell a sacrifice to the relentless and scientific 

barbarity of Britain. I took as much pains as 
^10 



1 10 ETHAJV alley's 

my circumstances would admit of, to inform 
myself not only of matters of fact, but like- 
wise of the very design and aims ot General 
Howe and his council. The latter of which 
1 predicated on the former, and submit it to 
the candid public. 

And lastly, the aforesaid success of the 
American arms had a happy effect on the con- 
tinental officers, who were on parole at New- 
York. A number of us assembled, but not in 
a pubhc manner, and, with full bowls and glas- 
ses, drank Gen. Washington's health, and 
were not unmindful of Congress and our wor- 
thy friends on the continent, and almost forgot 
that we were prisoners. 

A few days after this recreation, a British 
officer of rank and importance in their army, 
whose name I shall not mention in this nar- 
rative, for certain reasons, though I have men- 
tioned it to some of my close firiends and con- 
fidants, sent for me to his lodgings, and told 
me, " That faithfulness, though in a wrong 
cause, had nevertheless recommended me to 
Gen. Sir William Howe, who was minded to 
make me a Colonel of a regiment of new lev- 
ies, alias toriesj in the British service ; and 



^ NARRATIVE. 1 1 1 

proposed that I should go with him, and some 
other officers, to England, who would embark 
for that purpose in a few days, and there be 
introduced to Lord G. Germaine, and proba- 
bly to the King ; and, that previously I should 
be clothed equal to such an introduction, and, 
instead of paper rags, be paid in hard guin- 
eas ; after this should embark with Gen. Bur- 
goyne, and assist in the reduction of the coun- 
try, which infallibly would be conquered, and, 
when that should be done, I should have a 
large tract of land, either in the New-Hamp- 
shire grants, or in Connecticut, it would make 
n6 odds, as the country would be forfeited to 
the crown." I then replied, " That, if by 
faithfulness I had recommended myself to Gen. 
Howe, I should be loth, by uniaithfulness, to 
lose the General's good opinion 4 besides, 
that I viewed the offer of land to be similar to 
that which the devil offered Jesus Christ, "To 
give him all the kingdoms of the world, if he 
would fall down and worship him ;" when at 
the same time, that the damned soul had not 
one foot of land upon earth." This closed 
the conversation, and the gentleman turned 
from me with an air of dislike, saying, that I 



112 ETHAN ALLEin's 

was a bigot ; upon which I retired to my 
lodgings.* 

Near the last of JN'ovember 1 was admitted 
to parole ^in New -York, with many other 
American officers, and on the 22d day of Jan- 
uary, 1777, was with them directed by the 
British commissary of prisoners to be quarter- 
ed on the wasterly part of Long-Island, and 
our parole continued. During m}^ imprison- 
ment there, no occurrences worth observation 
happened. I obtained the means of living as 
well as I desired, which in a great measure 
repaired my constitution, which had been 
greatly injured by the severities of an inhu- 
man captivity. I now begin to feel myself 
composed, expecting either an exchange, or 
continuance in good and honorable treat- 
ment ; but alas ! my visionary expectations 

*Tliis conduct of Colonel Allen, though springing 
from duty, ought not to be passed over without trib- 
utary })raise. The refusal of such an offer and in such 
circumstances, was highly meritorious. Though tlie 
man of strict honour, and ligid integrity, deems the 
plaudit of his own conscience an ample reward for his 
best actions, it is a pleasing employment, to those who 
witness such actions, to record them. It is an incentive 
lo others to " go and do likewise." 



NARRATIVE. 113 

soon vanished. The news of the conquest 
of Ticonderoga by Gen. Burooyne,* and the 
advance of his army into the country, made 
the haughty Britons again to feel their impor- 
tance, and with that, their insatiable thirst for 
cruelty. 

The private prisoners at New-York, and 
some of the officers on parole, lelt the severi- 
ty of it. Burgoyne was their to a stand demi- 
god. To him they paid adoratian : in him 

*ln June, 1777, the Briitsh army, amounting to sev- 
eral tliousand men, besides Indians and Canadians, com- 
manded by General Bnrgoyn^?, crossed the hike and laid 
siege to Ticonderoga. In a s-hort time, the enemy 
gained possession ot\Sugar Hill, which commanded the 
American line^, and General St. Clair, with the advice 
<>} a council of war, ordered the posts to be abandoned. 
Tl.e letreat of the Aniericans was conducted under ev- 
ery possible disadvantage — part of their force embarked 
in batteaux and landed at Skenesborongh — a part march- 
ed l)y the way of Castleton ; but they were obliged to 
leave their heavy cannon, and on their march, lost great 
part of their baggage and stores, while their rear was 
liarrassed by the British troops. An action took place 
between Colonel Warner, with a bodv of Americans 
and General Frazer, in which the Americans were de- 
feated, after a brave resistance, with the lo&s of a valua- 
ble officer, Colonel Francis. 
10* 



114 ETHAN Allen's 

the tories placed their confidence, " and for- 
got the Lord, their God," and served Howe, 
liurgoyne, and Knyphausen,* " and became 
vile in their own imagination, and their fool- 
ish hearts were darkened, professing" to be 
great politicians and relying on foreign and 
merciless invaders, and with them seeking 
the ruin, bloodshed and destruction of their 
country, " became lools," expecting with 
them to share a dividend in the confiscated 
estates of their neighbours and countrymen 
who fought for the whole country, and the re- 
ligion and liberties thereof : " Therefore, 
God gave them over to strong delusions, to 
believe a lie, that they all might be damned." 
The 25th day of August I was apprehend- 
ed, and, under pretext of artful, mean and 
pitiful pretences, that I had infringed on my 
parole, taken from a tavern, where there were 
more than a dozen officers present and, in the 
very place where those officers, and myself 
were directed to be quartered, put under a 
strong guard, and taken to New-York, where 
I expected to make my defence before the 

*Knypliau.sen, a Hessian General. 



NARRATIVE, 115 

commanding officer; but, contrary to my ex- 
pectations, -and without the least solid pre- 
tence of justice or a trial, was again encircled 
with a strong guard with fixed bayonets, and 
conducted to the provost-gaol in a lonely 
apartment, next above the dungeon, and was 
denied all manner of subsistance either by pur- 
chase or allowance. The second day I offer- 
ed a guinea for a meal of victuals, but was de- 
nied it, and the: third day I offered eight 
Spanish milled dollars for a like f?ivor, but 
was denied, and all that I could get -out of the 
sergeant's mouth, was that by God he would 
obey his orders. I now perceived myself to 
be again in substantial trouble. In this con- 
dition I formed an oblique acquaintance with 
a Capt. Travis, of Virginia, who was in the 
dungeon below me, through a little hole 
which was cut with a pen-kni^e, through th^ 
floor of my apartment which communicated 
with the dungeon ; it was a small crevice, 
through which I could discern but a very 
small part of his face at once, when he apphed 
it to the hole ; but from the discovery of him 
in the situaUon which we were both then in, I 
could not have known him, which I found to 



1 16 ETHAN Allen's 

be true by an after acquaintance. I could nev- 
ertheless hold a conversation with him, and 
soon perceived him to be a gentleman of high 
spirits, who had a high sense of honor, and 
felt as big, as though he had been in a palace, 
and had treasures of wrath in store against 
the British, In fine I was charmed with the 
spirit of the man; he had been near or quite 
four months in that dungeon, v.hh murder- 
ers, thieves, and every species of criminals, 
and all for the sole crime of unshaken fidelity 
to his country ; but his spirits were above 
dejection, and his mind unconquerable. I en- 
gaged to do him eveiy service in my power, 
and in a few weeks afterwards, with the uni- 
ted petitions of the officers in the provost, {>ro- 
cured his dismission Irom the dark mansion 
of fiends to the apartments of his petitioners. 
And it came to pass on the 3d day at the, 
going down oi the sun, that I W'as presented 
with a piece of boiled pork, and some biscuit, 
which the sergeant gave me to understand, 
was my allowance, and I fed sweetly on the 
same ; but I indulged my appetite by de- 
grees, and in a lew^ days more, was taken 
from that apartment, and conducted to the 



NARRATIVE. 117 

next loft or story, where there were above 
iw^enty continental, and some militia officers, 
who had been taken, and imprisoned there, 
besides some private gentlemen, who had 
been dragged Irom their own homes to that 
lilthy place by tories. Several oi every de- 
nomination mentioned, died there, some be- 
Ibre, and others alter I was put there. 

The history of the proceedmgs relative to 
the provost only, were I particular, would 
sw^ell a volume lar«:er than this whole narra- 
tive. I shall therefore onl}^ notice such of the 
occurrences which are most extraordinary, 

Capt. Vandyke bore, with an uncommon 
fortitude, near twenty months' confinement in 
this place, and in the mean time w as very ser- 
viceable to others who were confined with 
him. The allegation against him, as the 
cause of his confinement, was very extraor- 
dinarj^ He was accused of setting fire to the 
city of New -York, at the time the west part 
of it was consumed, when it was a known 
fact, that he had been in the provost a week 
before the fire broke out ; and in like man- 
ner, trivolous were the ostensible accusations 
against most of those who were there confin- 



118 ETHAN Allen's 

ed ; the case of two militia officers excepted, 
wiio were taicen in their attempting to escape 
from their parole ; and^probably there may be 
some other instances avhich might justify such 
a confmement. 

Mr. William Miller, a committee man, 
irom West Chester county, and state of New- 
York, was taken from his bed in the dead of 
night, by his tory neighbours, and was starv- 
ed for three days and nights in an apartment 
of the same gaol ; add to this the denial of 
lire, and that in a cold season of the year, in 
which time he walked day and night, to de- 
fend himself against the frost, and when ;_he 
complained of such a reprehensible conduct, 
the word rebel or committee man was deem- 
ed by the enemy a sufficient atonement for 
any inhumanity that they could invent or in- 
tlict. He was a man of good natural under- 
standing, a close and sincere friend to the lib- 
erties of Americaj and endured fourteen 
months' cruel imprisonment with that magna- 
nimity of soul, which reflects honor on him- 
self and country. 

Major Levi Weils, and Capt. Ozias Bissel, 
were apprehended and taken under guard 



NARRATIVE. 119 

from theii* parole on Long-Island, to the pro- 
vost, on as fallacious pretences as the form- 
er, and were there continued till their ex- 
change took place, which was near five 
months. Their fidelity and zealous attach- 
ment to their country's cause, which was 
more than commonly conspicuous was, un- 
doubtedly the real cause of their confinement. 

Major Brinton Payne, Capt. Flahaven, and 
Capt. Randolph, who had at different times 
distinguished themselves by their bravery, 
especially at the several actions, in which 
they were taken, were all the provocation 
they gave, for which they suffered about a 
year,s confinement, each in the same filthy 
gaol. 

A few weeks after my confinement, on the 
like fallacious and wicked pretences, was 
brought to the same place, from his parole on 
Long-Island, Major Otho Holland Williaws 
now a full Col. in the continental army. In 
his character are united the gentleman, olli- 
cer, soldier, and friend ; :he vfalked through 
the prison with an air of great disdain ; said 
he, "Is this the treatment which gentlemen 
of the continental army are to expect from 



120 ETHAN Allen's 

the rascally British, when in their power 1 
Heavens forbid it !" He was continued there 
about five months, and then exchanged ior a 
British Major. 

John Fell, Esq. now a member of Con- 
gress for the state of New -Jersey, was taken 
from his own house by a gang of infamous to- 
nes, and by order of a British General was 
sent to the provost, where he was continued 
near one yer.r. The stench of the gaol, which 
was very loathsome and unhealthy, occasion- 
ed a hoarseness of the lungs, which proved 
fatal to many who were there confined, and 
reduced this gentlemen near to the point of 
death ; he v/as indeed given over by his 
friends who were about him, and himself con- 
cluded he must die. I could not endure the 
thought that so worthy a friend to America 
should have his life stolen from him in such 
a mean, base, and scandalous manner, and 
that his family and friends should be bereav- 
ed ot so great and desirable a blessing, as his 
farther care, usefuhiess and example, might 
prove to them. I therefore wrote a letter to 
George Robertson, v/ho commanded in town, 
and being touched with the most sensible 



NARRATIVE. 121 

feelings of humanity, which dictated my pen 
to paint dying distress in such Hvely colours 
that it wrought conviction even on the obdu- 
racy of a British General, and produced his 
order to remove the now honorable John Fell, 
Esq. out of a gaol, to private lodgings in 
town ; in consequence of which he slowly 
recovered his health. There is so extraor- 
dinary a circumstance which intervened con- 
cerning this letter, that it is worth noticing. 
Previous to sending it, I exhibited the 
same to the gendeman on whose behalf it 
was written, for his approbation, and he for- 
bid me to send it in the most positive and 
explicit terms; his reason was, "That the 
enemy knew, by every morning's report, the 
condition of all the prisoners, mine in partic- 
ular, as I have been gradually coming to my 
end for a considerable time, and they very 
well knew it, and likewise determined it 
should be accomplished, as they had served 
many others ; that, to ask a favor, would give 
the merciless enemy occaasion to triumph 
over me in my last moments, and therefore I 
will ask no lavors from them, but resign my- 
self to my supposed fate." But the letter I 
11 



122 ETHAN Allen's 

sent without his knowledge, and I confess I 
had but little expectations from it, yet could 
not be easy till I had sent it. It may be worth 
a remark, that this gentleman was an Eng- 
lishman born, and from the beginning ot the 
revolution, has invariably asserted and main- 
tained the cause of hberty. 

The British have made so extensive an im- 
provement of the provost during the present 
revolution till of late, that a very short defi- 
nition will be sufficient for the dullest appre- 
hensions. It may be with propriety called 
the British inquisition, and calculated to sup- 
port their oppressive measures and designs, 
by suppressing the spirit oi liberty ; as also 
a place to confine the criminals, and most in- 
famous wretches of theu^ own army, where 
many gentlemen of the American army, and 
citizens thereof, were promiscuously confin- 
ed, with every species of criminals ; but they 
divided into different apartments, and kept at 
as great a remove as circumstances permit- 
ted ; but it was nevertheless at the option of 
a villanous Serjeant, who had the charge of 
the provost, to take any gentleman from their 
i-oom, and put them into the dungeon, which 



NARRATIVE. 123 

was often the case. At two different times I 
was taken down stairs for that purpose, by a 
file of soldiers with fixed bayonets, and the 
Serjeant brandi:shing his sword at the same 
time, and having been brought to the door of 
the dungeon, I there flattered the vanity of 
the Serjeant, whose name was Keef, by which 
means I procured the surprizing favor to re- 
turn to my companions ; but some of the 
high mettled young gentlemen could not bear 
his insolence, and determined to keep at a 
distance, and neither please or displease the 
villain, but none could keep clear of his a- 
buse ; however, mild measures were the 
best ; he did not hesitate to call us damned 
rebels, and use us with the coarsest language. 
The Capts. Flahaven, Ranpolph and Mercer, 
were the objects of his most flagrant and re- 
peated abuses, who were many times taken 
to the dungeon, and there continued at his 
pleasure. Capt. Flahaven took cold in the 
dungeon, and was in a dechning state of 
health, but an exchange dehvered him, and 
in all probability saved his hfe. It was very 
mortifying to bear with the insolence of such 
a vicious and ill bred, imperious rascal. Re- 



124 ETHAN Allen's 

monstrances against him were preferred to the 
commander of the town, but no reUef could 
be obtained, for his superiors were undoubt- 
edly well pleased with his abusive conduct to 
the gentlemen, under the severities of his 
power ; and remonstrating against his infer- 
nal conduct, only served to confirm him in 
authority ; and for this reason I never made 
any remonstrances on the subject, but only 
streaked him, for I knew that he was but a 
cat's paw in the hands of the British officers, 
and that, if he should use us well, he would 
immediately be put out of that trust, and a 
worse man appointed to succeed him ; but 
there was no need of making any new appoint- 
ment ; for Cunningham, their provost mar- 
shal, and Keef, his deputy, were as great ras- 
cals as their army could boast of, except one 
Joshua Loring, an infamous tory, who was 
commissary of prisoners ; nor can any of 
these be supposed to be equally criminal with 
Gen. Sir William Howe and his associates, 
who prescribed and directed the murders and 
cruelties, which were by them perpetrated. 
This Loring is a monster ! — There is not his 
hke in human shape. He exhibits a smiling 



NARRATIVE. 125 

countenance, seems to wear a phiz of human- 
ity, but has been instrumentally capable of the 
most consummate acts of wickedness, which 
were first projected by an abandoned British 
council clothed with the authority of a Howe, 
murdering premeditatedly, in cold blood, near 
or quite two thousand helpless prisoners, and 
that in the most clandestine, mean and shame- 
ful manner, at New-York. He is the most 
mean spirited, cowardly, deceitful, and des- 
tructive animal in God's creation below, and 
legions of infernal devils, with all their tre- 
mendous horrors, are impatiently ready to 
receive Howe and him, with all their detest- 
able accomplices, into the most exquisite ag- 
onies of the hottest region of hell fire.* 

The 6th day of July, 1777, Gen. St. Clair, 
and the army under his command, evacuated 
Ticonderoga, and retreated with the main 
body through Hubbardton into Castleton, 

* The publisher would suppress some of the languaore 
and expressions Col. Allen occasionally makes use of, 
but presuming the reader to make all reasonable allow- 
ance, both for the style and the matter, it was thought 
most eligible to give the narrative in the very dress fur- 
nished by the author. 
11* 



126 ETHAN Allen's 

which was but six miles distance, when his 
rear-guard, commanded by Col. Seth War- 
ner, was attacked at Hubbardton by a body of 
the enemy of about two thousand, command- 
ed by General Fraser. Warner's command 
consisted of his own and two other regiments 
viz. Francis's and Hale's, and some scatter- 
ing and enfeebled soldiers. His whole num- 
ber, according to information, was near or 
quite one thousand ; part of which were Green 
Mountain Boys about seven hundred out of 
the whole he brought into action. The ene- 
my advanced boldly, and the two bodies form- 
ed within about sixty yards of each other. 
Col. Warner having lormed his own regi- 
ment, and that of Col. Francis's, did not wait 
for the enemy, but gave them a heavy fire 
from his whole line, and they returned it with 
great bravery. It was by this time danger- 
ous for those of both parties, who were not 
prepared for the world to come ; but Colonel 
Hale being apprised of the danger, never 
brought his regiment to the c'harge, but left 
Warner and Francis to stand the blowing of 
it, and fled, but luckily tell in with an incon- 
siderable number of the enemy, and to his 



NARRATIVE. 127 

eternal shame, surrendered himself a pris- 
oner. 

Tiie conflict was very bloody. Col. Fran- 
cis fell in the same, but Col. Warner, and the 
officers under his command, as also the sol- 
diery, behaved with great resolution. The 
enemy broke, and gave way on the right and 
left, but formed again, and renewed the at- 
tack ; in the mean time the Britvsh grenadiers, 
in the centre of the enemy's line, maintained 
the ground, and finally carried it with the 
point of the bayonet, and Warner retreated 
with reluctance. Our loss was about thirty 
men killed, and that of the enemy amounting 
to three hundred killed, including a Major 
Grant. The enemy's loss I learnt from the 
confession of their own officers, when a pris- 
oner with them. I heard them likewise com- 
plain, that the Green Mountain Boys took 
sight. The next movement of the enemy, 
of any material consequence, was their invest- 
ing Bennington,"^ with a design to demolish 

* The Americans had collected a quantity of stores at 
Bennington ; to destroy which as well as to animate the 
royalists and intimidate the patriots, general Burgoyne 



128 ETHAN Allen's 

it, and subject its Mountaineers, to which 
they had a great aversion, with one hundred 
and fifty chosen men, including tories, with the 
highest expectaton of success, and having- 
chosen an eminence of strong ground, fortifi- 
ed it with shght breast works, and two pieces 
of cannon ; but the government of the young 
state of Vermont, being previously jealous of 
such an attempt of the enemy, and in due 
time had procuerd a number of brave militia 
from the government of the state of New- 
Hampsbire, who, together with the mihtia of 
the north part of Berkshire county, and 

detached colonel Baum, with five hundred men and one 
hundred Indians. Colonel Breyman was sent to rein- 
force him, but did not arrive in time. On the I6th -of 
August, general Stark, with about eight hundred brave 
militia men, attacked colonel Baum, in his entrenched 
camp about six miles from Bennington, and killed or 
took prisoners nearly the whole detachment. The next day 
colonel Breyman was attacked and defeated. In these 
actions, the Americans took about seven hundred prison- 
ers and these successes served to revive the sprits of 
the people. This succss however was in part counter- 
balanced by the advantages g lined on the Mohawk by 
colonel St. Leger ; but this officer, attacking fort Stan- 
wix, was repelled, and obliged to abandon the attempt. 



NARRATIVE. 129 

state of Massachusetts, and the Green Moun- 
tam Boys, constituted a body of despera- 
does, under the command of the intrepid 
Gen. Stark, who in number were about equal 
to the enemy. Col. Herrick, who command- 
ed the Green Mountain Rangers, and who 
was second in command, being thoroughly 
acquainted wilh the ground where the ene- 
my had fortified, proposed to attack them in 
dieir works upon all parts, at the same time. 
This plan being adopted by the General and 
his council of war, the litde militia brigade 
of undisciplined heroes, with their long brown 
firelocks, the best security of a free people, 
without either cannon or bayonets, was, on 
the 16th day of Augnstj led On to the attack 
by their bold commanders, in the face of the 
enemy's dreadful fire, and to the astonishment 
of the world, and burlesque of discipline, car- 
ried every part of their lines in less than one 
quarter of an hour after the attack became 
general, took their cannon, killed and capti- 
vated more than two thirds of their number, 
which immortalized Gen. Stark, and made 
Bennington famous to posterity. 



130 ETHAN alley's 

Among the enemy's slain was found Col. 
Baum, their commander, a Col. Pfester, who 
headed an infamous gang of tories, and a 
large part of his command ; and among the 
prisoners was Major Meibome, their sec- 
ond in command, a number of British and 
Hessian officers, surgeons, &lc, and more 
than one hundred of the aforementioned Pfes- 
ter's command. The prisoners being collect- 
ed together, were sent to the meeting house 
in the town, by a strong guard, and General 
Stark not imagining any present danger, the 
militia scattered from him to rest and refresh 
themselves; in this situation he was on a 
sudden attacked by a reinforcement of one 

thousand and one hundred of the enemv, 

"■'■'-■ if ' 

commanded by a Gov. Skene, with two fieI4 
pieces. They advanced in regular order, 
and kept up an incessant fire, especially irom 
their field pieces, and the remaining militia 
retreating slowly before them, disputed the 
ground inch by inch. The enemy were 
heard to halloo to them, saying, stop Yan- 
kees. In the mean time, Col. Warner, with 
about one hundred and thirty men of his re.- 
giment, who were not in the first action, ar^ 



NARRATIVE. 131 

rived and attacked the enemy with great fury, 
being determined to have ample revenge on 
account [of the quarrel at Hubbardton, which 
brought them to a stand, and soon after Gen. 
Stark and Col. Herrick, brought on more of 
the scattered mihtia, and the action became 
general ; in a few^ minutes the enemy were 
forced from their cannon, gave way on all 
parts and fled, and the shouts of victory were 
a second time proclaimed in fiwor of the mi- 
litia. The enemy's loss in killed and prison- 
ers, in these two actions, amounted to more 
than one thousand and two hundred men, and 
our loss did not exceed fifty men. This was 
a bitter stroke to the enemy, but their pride 
would not permit them to hesitate but that 
they could vanquish the country, and as a 
specimen of their arrogancy, I shall insert 
General Burgoyne's proclamation, 

" By John Burgoyne, Esq. Lieutenant- 
General of his Majesty's armies in America, 
Colonel of the Queen's regiment of light 
dragoons. Governor of Fort Wilham in North- 
Britain, one of the Representadves of the 
Commons of Great Britain, in Parliament, and 






132 ETHAN Allen's 

commanding an army and fleet employed on 
an expedition from Canada, &c. &.c. &:c. 

" The forces entrusted to my command 
are designed to act in concert and upon a 
common principle, with the numerous armies 
and fleets which already display in every 
quarter of America, the power, the justice, 
and, when properly sought, the mercy of the 
King. 

" The cause, in which the British arms are 
thus exerted, applies to the most aflecting in- 
terests of the human heart ; and the military 
servants of the crown, at first called forth for 
the sole purpose of restoring the rights of the 
constitution, now combine with love of their 
country, and duty to their sovereign, the oth- 
er extensive incitements which spring from a 
due sense of the general privileges of man- 
kind. To the eyes and ears of the temper- 
ate part of the public, and to the breasts of 
suffereing thousands in the provinces, be the 
melancholy appeal, whether the present unnat- 
ural rebellion has not been made a founda- 
tion for the completest system of tyranny 
that ever God, in his displeasure, suffered lor 



NARRATIVE. 133 

a time to be exercised over a froward and 
stubborn generation. 

" Arbitrary imprisonment, confiscation of 
property, persecution and torture, unprece- 
dented in the inquisitions ot the Romish 
Church, are among the palpable enormities 
that verify the affirmative. These are inflict- 
ed by assemblies and committees, who dare 
to proi'ess themselves friends to liberty, upon 
the most quiet subjects, without distinction 
of age or sex, for the sole crime, often for 
the sole suspicion, of having adhered in prin- 
ciple to the government under which they 
were born, and to which, by every tie, divine 
and human, they owe allegiance. To con- 
summate these shocking proceedings, the 
proianaton of religion is added to the most 
profligate prostitution of common reason ; 
the consciences of men are set at nought ; 
and multitudes are compelled not only to 
bear arms, but also to swear subjection to an 
usurpation they abhor. 

" Animated by these considerations, at 
the head of troops in the fuU powers of health, 
discipline, and valor ; determined to strike 
12 



134 ETHAN Allen's 

where necessary, and anxious to spare where 
possible, I by these presents invite and ex- 
hort all persons, in all places where the pro- 
gress of this army may point ; and by the 
blessing of God I will extend it far to main- 
tain such a conduct as may justify me in pro- 
tecting their lands, habitations and families. 
The intention of this address is to hold forth 
security, not depredation to the country. To 
those whom spirit and principle may induce 
to partake of the glorious task of redeeming 
their countrymen from dungeons, and re- 
establishing the blessings of legal government, 
I offer encouragement and employment ; and 
upon the first inteUigence of their associa- 
tions, I will find means to assist their under- 
takings* The domestic, the industrious, the 
infirm, and even the timid inhabitants I am 
desirous to protect, provided they remain qui- 
etly at their houses ; that they do not suffer 
their cattle to be removed, nor their corn or 
forage to be secreted or destroyed ; that they 
do not break up their bridges or roads : nor 
by any other act, directly or indirectly, en- 
deavour to obstruct the operations of th« 



NARRATIVE. 135 

king's troops, or supply or assist those of the 
enemy. Kvery species of provision brought 
to my camp, will be paid for at an equitable 
rate, and in solid coin. 

" In consciousness of Christianity, my royal 
master's clemency, and the honor ot soldier- 
ship, I have dwelt upon this invitation, and 
wished for more persuasive terms to give it 
impression. And let not people be led to 
disregard it by considering their distance 
from the immediate situation of my camp. — 
I have but to give stretch to the Indian forces 
under my direction, and they amount to thous- 
ands, to overtake the hardened enemies of 
Great-Britain and America : I consider them 
the same wherever they may lurk. 

" If, notwithstanding these endeavours, and 
sincere inclinations to effect them, the phren- 
sy of hostility should remain, I trust 1 shall 
stand acquitted ni the eyes of God and man, 
in denouncing and executing the vengeance 
of the state against the wilful outcasts. The 
messengers of justice and ot wrath await 
them in the field ; and devastation, famine, 
and every concomitant horror that a reluc- 



136 ETHAN ALLF.n's 

tant but indispensible prosecution of military 
duty must occasion, will bear the way to their 
return. . J. BUHGOYNE. 

"By order of his Excellency the Lieut. 
General, Robt. Kingston, 

Secretary. 
" Camp near Ticonderoga, 4th July, 1 777. 

Gen. Burgoyne was still the toast, and the 
severities towards the prisoners were in great 
measure increased or diminished, in propor- 
tion to the expectation of conquest. His 
very ostentatious Proclamation was in the 
hand and mouth of most of the soldiery, espe- 
cially the tories, and from it, their faith was 
raised to assurance. I wish my countrymen 
in general could but have an idea of the as- 
suming tyranny, and haughty, malevolent, and 
insolent behavior of the enemy at that time ; 
and from thence discern the intolerable calam- 
ities which this country have extricated them- 
selves Irom by their public spiritedness and 
bravery. The downfall of Gen. Burgoyne,* 

* General Burgoyne, after collecting his forces and 
stores, crossed the Hudson with a view to penetrate to 
Albany. But the American army being reinforced dai- 



NARRATIVE. 137 

and surrender of his whole army, dashed the 
aspiring hopes and expectations of the enemy, 
and brought low the imperious spirit of an 
opulent, puissant and haughty nation, and 
made the tories bite the ground with an- 
gush, exalting the valor of the free-born sons 
of America, and raised their fame and that of 
their brave commanders to the clouds, and 
immortaUzed Gen. Gates with laurels of 
eternal duration. No sooner had the knowl- 
edge of this mteresting and mighty event 

ly, held hiai in check at Saratoga. General Gates now 
took the command, and was aided by the generals Lin- 
cohi and Arnold. On the 19th of September, the Amer- 
ican.-3 attacked tlio Britisli army, and with snch bravery, 
ihit the eiiemv could boastof no advantage, and night 
|):jt an end to the action. Tlie loss of the enemy was 
a!) )vit five iir.n Ired. Gaiieral Biirgoyne was confined in 
a n irrow ;> i; s — liaving the Hu'lson on one side and im- 
passible woods on the ';iher — a body of Americans was 
in his re.ir — his boats he had ordered to be burnt, and he 
could not retreat — while an army of thirteen thousand 
men opposed him in front. On the 7th of Octber, the 
armies came to a second action, in which the Piritish lost 
general Frazer, with a great number of officers and men, 
and were driven within their lines. On the part of the 
Americans the loss was not great, but generals Lin- 
coln and Arnold were wounded. 
12* 



138 ETHAN Allen's 

reBched His Most Christian Majesty, who in 
Europe shines with a superior lustre in good- 
oesSj policy and arms, but the illustrious po- 
tentate, auspiciously influenced by Heaven to 
promote the reciprocal interest and happiness 
of the ancient kingdom of France, and the 
new and rising states of America, passed the 
great and decisive decree, that the United 
States of America, should be free and inde- 
pendent. Vaunt no more, Old England ! 
consider you are but an island ! and that your 
power has been continued longer than the ex- 
ercise of your humanity. Order your brok- 
en and vanquished battalions to retire from 
Amf rica, the scene of your cruelties. Go 
liome and repent in dust and sackcloth for 
your aggravated crimes. The cries of be- 
reaved parents, widows and orphans, reach 
the Heavens, and you are abominated by eve- 
ry friend to America. Take your friends 
the lories with you, and be gone, and drink 
deep of the cup of humiliation. Make peace 
with the princes of the house of Bourbon, 
for you are in no condition to wage war with 
them. Your veteron soldiers are fallen in 
America, and your glory is departed. Be qui- 



NARRATIVE. 139 

et and pay your debts, especially for the hire 
of th(3 Hessians. There is no other way for 
you to get into credit again, but by reforma- 
tion and plain honesty, which you have des- 
pised ; for your power is by no means suffi- 
cient to support your vanity. I have had op- 
portunity to see a great deal of it, and felt its 
severe effects, and learned lessons of wisdom 
and policy, when I wore your heavy irons, 
and bore your bitter revilings and reproach- 
es. I have something of a smattering of phi- 
losophy, and understand human nature in all 
its stages tolerably well ; am thoroughly ac- 
quainted with your national crimes, and as- 
sure you Uiat they not only cry aloud for 
Heaven's vengeance, but excite mankind to 
rise up against you. Virtue, wisdom and 
policy are in a national sense, always connec- 
ted with power, or in other words, power is 
their offspring, and such power as is not direc- 
ted by virtue, wisdom and policy never fails 
finally to destroy itself as yours has done. — 
It is so in the nature of things, and unfit that 
it should be otherwise ; for if it was not so, 
vanit}^ injustice, and oppression, might 
reigu triumphant forever. I know you have 



140 ETHAN Allen's 

individuals, who still retain their virtue, and 
consequently their honor and humanity. 
Those 1 really pity, as they must more or less 
suffer in the calamity, in which the nation is 
plunged headlong ; but as a nation I hate 
and despise you. 

My affections are Frenchified. I glory in 
Louis the sixteenth, the generous and power- 
ful ally of these states ; am lond ot a connec- 
tion with so enterprizing, learned, polite, 
courteous, and commercial a nation, and am 
sure that i express the sentiments and feelings 
of all the friends to the present revolution. I 
begin to learn the French tongue, and re- 
commend it to my countrymen before He- 
brew, Greek or Latin, (provided but one of 
them only are to be attended to) for the trade 
and commerce of these states in future must 
inevitably shift its channel from England to 
France, Spain, and Portugal ; and therefore 
the statesman, politican and merchant, need 
be acquainted with their several languages, 
particularly the French, which is much in 
vogue in most parts of Europe. Nothing 
could have served so effectually to illuminate, 
polish, and enrich these states as the present 



NARRATIVE. 141 

revolution, as well as preserve their liberty. 
Mankind are naturally too national, even 
to a degree of bigotry, and commercial inter- 
course with foreign nations, has a great and 
necessary tendency to improve mankind, and 
erase the superstition ot the mind by acquain- 
ting them that human nature, policy and inte- 
rest, are the same in all nations, and at 
the same time they are bartering commodi- 
ties for the conveniences and happiness of 
each nation, they may reciprocally exchange 
such part of their customs and manners as 
may be beneficial, and learn to extend chari- 
ty and good will to the whole world of man- 
kind. I was confined in the provost-gaol 
at New-York the 26th day of August, and 
continued there to the third day of May, 
1778, when [ was taken out under guard, and 
conducted to a sloop in the harbour at New- 
York, in which I was guarded to Staten- 
Island, to Gen. Campbell's quarters, where I 
was admitted to eat and drink with the Gen. 
and S3veral other of the British field ofiScers, 
and treated for two days in a polite manner. 
As I was drinking wine with them one even- 
ing, I made an observation on my transition 



142 ETHAN Allen's 

from the provost-criminals to the company of 
gentleman, adding that I was the same man 
still, and should give the British credit by 
him (speaking to the Gen.) for two days good 
usage. 

The next day Col. Archibald Campbell, 
who was exchanged for me, came to this 
place, conducted by Mr. Boudinot, the then 
American commissary of prisoners, and sa- 
luted me in a handsome manner, saying that 
he never was more glad to see any gentle- 
man in his life, and I gave him to under- 
stand that I w^as equally glad to see him, and 
was apprehensive that it was from the same 
motive. The gentlemen present laughed at the 
fancy, an(| conjectured that sweet liberty w^as 
the foundation of our gladness; so we took a 
galss of wine together, and then I was accompa- 
nied by Gen. Campbell, Col. Campbell, Mr. 
Boudinot, and a number ot British officers, to 
the boat, which was ready to sail to Elizabeth- 
town -point. Mean while I entertained them 
with a rehearsal of the cruelties exercised to- 
wards our prisoners ; and assured them that 
I should use my influence, that their prison- 
ers should be treated in future in the same 



NARRATIVE. 143 

manner, as they should in future treat ours ; 
that I thought it was right in such extreme 
cases, that their example should be applied 
to their own prisoners ; then exchanged the 
decent ceremonies of compliment, and part- 
ed. I sailed to the point aforesaid, and, in a 
transport of joy, landed on liberty ground, 
and as I advancd into the country, received 
the acclamations of a grateful people. 

I soon fell into company with Col. Shelden, 
of the light horse, who in a polite and oblig- 
ing manner accompanied me to head-quarters. 
Valley Forge, where I was courteously re- 
ceived by Gen, Washington, with peculiar 
marks of his approbation and esteem, and 
was introduced to most of the generals, and 
many of the principal officers of the army, 
who treated me with respect, and after hav- 
ing offered Gen. Wahington my farther ser- 
vice, in behalf of my country, as soon as my 
health, which was very much impaired, would 
admit, and obtain his licence to return home, 
I took my leave of his excellency, and set 
out from Valley Forge with Gen. Gates and 
his suit for Fish Kill, where we arrived the 
latter end of May. In this tour the Gen. 



144 ETHAN Allen's narrative. 






was pleased to treat me with the familiarity 
of a companion, and generosity of a lord, and 
to him 1 made known some striking circum- 
stances which occurred in the course of my 
captivity. I then bid farewell to my noble 
Gen. and the gentlemen of his retinue, and 
set out for Bennington, the capital of the 
Green Mountain Boys, where I arrived the 
evening of the last day ot May to their great 
surprise ; for I was to them as one rose from 
the dead, and now both their joy and mine 
was complete. Three cannon were fired that 
evening, and next morning C^ol. Herrick gave 
orders, and fourteen more were discharged, 
welcoming me to Bennington, my usual place 
of abode ; thirteen for the United States, and 
one for young Vermont. 

After this ceremony was ended we moved 
the flowing bowl, and rural felicity, sweeten- 
ed with friendship, glow^ed in each counte- 
nance, and with loyal healths to the rising 
States of America, concluded that evening, 
and, with the same loyal spirit, I now conclude 
mv narrative. 



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